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Equity and access to higher education in China: Lessons from Hunan province for university admissions policy

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  • Jia, Qiong
  • Ericson, David P.

Abstract

Using survey data from 1028 high school seniors and interview data from 54 participants, this study investigates the status quo regarding equity and access to higher education in China. Findings indicate that students from higher socioeconomic family backgrounds, better high schools, and more urban homes are more likely to be admitted into prestigious colleges. We conclude that the surface fairness of the Gaokao system that allocates students to different college prestige strata masks an underlying design of deep social inequity. We finally recommend strategies to reform the admissions process in order to achieve greater fairness in university access in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia, Qiong & Ericson, David P., 2017. "Equity and access to higher education in China: Lessons from Hunan province for university admissions policy," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 97-110.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:52:y:2017:i:c:p:97-110
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.10.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Wenli, 2007. "Family background, financial constraints and higher education attendance in China," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 724-734, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tadesse, Endale & Gao, Chunhai & Sun, Jing & Khalid, Sabika & Lianyu, Cai, 2022. "The impact of socioeconomic status on self-determined learning motivation: A serial mediation analysis of the influence of Gaokao score on seniority in Chinese higher vocational college students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Lijia Guo & Jiashun Huang & You Zhang, 2019. "Education Development in China: Education Return, Quality, and Equity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Faqin Lin & Rui Wang & Kuo Feng, 2024. "Regional favouritism in Chinese university admissions," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(1), pages 209-236, January.

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