49incomplete rural schools have been gradually incorporated into the central primary
school. Those left now teach up to grade 2 or grade 4 before children are trans-
ferred to the large central primary school.
At secondary level changes have been less dramatic. In 1990, Ansai County had
15 secondary schools, of which 1 was a complete secondary school, 13 were jun-
ior secondary schools and 1 was a vocational secondary school. By 2008/09, there
were 14 secondary schools of which two were complete (one is private), 11 were
junior secondary, and a vocational secondary school that had existed in 1990.
In 1990 in Ansai county the total number of primary students was 15,960, of
which about 49 % were girls. In 2009 13,540 were enrolled of whom 46.5 % were
girls. This almost certainly reflects the fact that there are fewer girls than boys in
the school age population.
Total enrolment at primary in Ansai has been falling rapidly. It was 27,800 in
2001 but only 13,500 by 2009. This has followed the fall in the school-age popula-
tion. From 27,900 in 2000/01 this has fallen to 12,300 in 2008/09. The population
fell fast as more emphasis was placed on family planning over the last decade.
Compared to 1990 there appears to be more concern to encourage smaller fami-
lies. There are other factors that are important. The rapid social and economic
development has resulted in changing attitudes towards larger families amongst
young people. Importantly there has been a substantial movement of the rural
population into cities. In these cases children usually follow their parents. As a
result the number of children in rural areas falls faster than the decline in the birth
rate that has been taking place. Ansai County experienced very significant migra-
tion from its population of about 160,000. The numbers leaving are shown below.
Though many may be temporary migrants whilst they are away they reduce the
demand for school places if they are accompanied by their children. If not then the
number of “left behind” children increases (Table 3.1).
Table 3.2 shows the “left behind” children in Yanhewan Central Primary
school. They accounted for about 10 % of the total school enrolment. These chil-
dren live with their grandparents or other relatives who may spoil them and who
may have limited ability to support their school work. Teachers indicated that
these children had a disproportionate share of problems and were more likely to be
Table 3.1 Number of migrants leaving Ansai County (2002–2008)
Years 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Migrants^443054507850 15,109 14,156 25,454 15,499
Table 3.2 Number of “left behind” children in Yanhewan central primary school (2006–2009)
Year Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Total
2006 6 24 19 15 9 3 76
2007 14 6 24 19 15 9 87
2008 1 14 6 24 19 15 79
2009 5 1 14 6 24 19 69
3.3 The Evolution of Nine Year Compulsory Education