Reassessing the Balanced Development of Compulsory Education

Abstract

The balanced development of compulsory education has been given due and lengthy coverage in the “Outline of China’s National Plan for Medium and Long-Term Education Reform and Development (2010–2020)” which, to some extent, reflects the needs of our time and the demands of the general public. However, detailed analyses reveal that many aspects remain to be improved. The authors hold that the balanced development of compulsory education should be people-oriented and a fundamental right of modern citizens. The paper makes a preliminary research on the question of balance in compulsory education, discussing participants, potential to achieve balance, and how to evaluate the ongoing development towards balance.

Keywords

compulsory education / balanced development / educational program guidelines / evaluation