Key Factors Influencing the Results of the Implementation of the “New Policies” on Private Education

Abstract

Editorial note: On November 7, 2016, the “Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Revisions to the ‘Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Promotion of Private Education’” was passed at the 24th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 12th People’s Congress. The decision included revisions to a total of 16 articles, involving strengthened efforts for party-building at private schools, implementation of categorized management, deletion of the line “reasonable returns,” government support measures, attribution of residual assets, and other areas. At its core, it served to clarify the distinctions between nonprofit private schools and for-profit private schools. Over the long term, the New Law will infuse private schools at various levels and in various categories with greater dynamism, promoting positive and rapid development in the cause of the integration of private education. In line with the spirit of the New Law, “Certain Recommendations of the State Council on Encouraging Social Forces to Sponsor Education and Promote the Healthy Development of Private Education” (abbreviated as “Certain Recommendations”), “Regulations for the Implementation of Categorized Registration of Private Schools,” and “Regulations for the Implementation of Supervision and Management of For-Profit Private Schools” were successively issued. The “Certain Recommendations” are oriented toward strengthening party leadership in private education, with the objective of promoting the healthy development of private education on the foundation of categorized management, taking differentiated support and standard management as the starting points for implementing innovative systems and mechanisms, perfecting support systems, accelerating the establishment of a modern schools system, improving the quality of education and teaching, improving management and service standards, and other reform measures.