Do incentivo à restrição:

educação privada na Fase de Ensino Obrigatório na China

Abstract

Although China has a substantial number of private schools, their proportion in the compulsory education sector remains low, “education must be recognized as a right for all” (LAVAL, 2019, p. 294). This article analyzes over two millennia of the history of private education in China, with a special focus on the policies implemented by the government of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to the present day. After the 1978 reform and opening up, both the number of private schools and the number of enrolled students grew steadily until the beginning of a decline in 2021. Data on the number of private schools, education spending, and birth rates were compiled. Through the analysis of government policy documents, several reasons for the decline of private schools were identified: 1. Increased funding for education in China; 2. Decreased birth rates; 3. Disorganized operations in private schools. The document Opinions on the Regulation of the Development of Private Compulsory Education served as a key document in catalyzing this change. Current measures may guide private capital to withdraw from compulsory education in an orderly fashion and proactively address the enrollment crisis caused by the decline in birth rates. China's policy demonstrates a pragmatic spirit, addressing the relationship between public and private education according to the country's financial capacity.