Amidst an explosion of British-based private and international schools
in China, the government is clamping down on their selection processes.
Shanghai international school admission
Accusing schools of “creaming off” the best of students, Chinese
education providers will soon be required to pick students for admission
based on a lottery system.
Zheng Fuzhi, China’s Deputy Education Minister, announced the new
guidelines as part of China’s plans to improve the quality of public
education.
According to SixthOne, “Both public and private schools in the
compulsory education system should start their enrollment processes at
the same time, and private schools should select students through a
random computerized system if applications exceed quotas.”
Richard Gaskell, Director of International Education Analysts at ISC
Research, reportedly said at the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’
Conference of leading fee-paying schools in the UK that “There is a
backlash against the rapid increase in private schools in China,
particularly from the big public schools where it’s perceived that they
have been simply creaming off the best kids.”
He also advised that international schools should put their
expansion plans on hold until the full effect of the changes next spring
can be seen.
However, Gaskell said that international schools should not be
deterred from opening up new branches in China as there is still a huge
demand.
He said, “There is a deep desire amongst the wealthy, middle class and young Chinese parents for a Western style of education.”
The Wall