1658.1 Introduction
This chapter explores how the location and distribution of schools has been changing
as a result of policy to diminish the number of small rural schools, and as a response
to demographic changes, urbanization, and large scale migration. These changes
have led to the development of boarding schools on a large scale across rural areas
in China. Using policy analysis approach supported by national data as well as the
empirical data from three case study of rural counties, the study reveals the process
of policy change and school location adjustment in practice. There are growing con-
cerns that boarding from very young ages can have adverse emotional and psycho-
social implications for the development of some children, that some schools are
now becoming mega institutions with very large enrolments on single sites, and that
learning levels have not improved as a result of school mergers on a massive scale
that have largely eliminated neighbourhood schools in some locations.
School location is an important issue in the process of universal compulsory
education. It is the key to easy access to schools. It is related to the distance chil-
dren travel to go to school. Research reveals that distance to school and the enrol-
ment rate is in inverse relation with the greater the distance the lower the chances
of enrolment. It is important for schools to be close to where students live so
that they can go to school easily. It ensures children’s rights to attend school. If
a school is too far away, it creates difficulty and cost in access, especially in the
remote and mountainous rural areas where public transport is underdeveloped. It
also has risks for safety. Schools have a great social impact and are symbolic of a
healthy community. Removing a school from a community can divide a commu-
nity and fragment social cohesion.
In contrast to these advantages of small distance to travel to school there may
be disadvantages of planning to support many local schools. School size may be
too small to attract and retain specialist teachers. Expensive facilities for science,
Chapter 8
School Mapping and Boarding
in the Context of Demographic
Change in Rural Areas
© Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2016
L. Wang and K. Lewin, Two Decades of Basic Education in Rural China,
New Frontiers of Educational Research, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-2120-6_8