New guideline protects county-level high schools from talent drain

A new guideline has been introduced to prohibit city or provincial high schools from luring outstanding principals and teachers away from county-level high schools, in a move to address the decline in education quality at county schools.

The guideline also explicitly bans provincial and city high schools from recruiting top students away from county-level schools.

With nearly 60 percent of high school students in China studying at county-level high schools, the performance of these institutions is crucial to the development and future of more than 16.7 million students. However, in recent years, many top teachers and students have been drawn to more advanced schools, leading to what has been termed as "collapsing county high schools".

The comprehensive plan, rolled out to revitalize ordinary high schools in county-level areas, aims to tackle existing irregularities and shortcomings while promoting high-quality educational development in less developed regions.

Issued by the Ministry of Education and five other departments on Friday, the guideline outlines a systematic approach to strengthening county-level high school education. By 2030, the plan aims to improve the resource supply mechanism for ordinary high schools in line with the growing school-age population and optimize the distribution of schools.

It also seeks to enhance coordination between urban and rural education, narrow the development gap among high schools within the same city, and establish a pattern of quality, distinctive, and diversified development.

The plan emphasizes correcting the tendency among high schools to focus solely on university enrollment rates and deepening evaluation reform.

Additionally, provincial-level authorities are required to specify daily schedules and vacation periods for high school students, including winter and summer breaks. Schools are prohibited from organizing make-up classes or assessments on weekends, holidays or during vacations.