By Zhao Junchao, Research Department of Rural Economy, DRC

Research Report, No.173, 2021 (Total 6238) 2021-6-25

Abstract: The key to successful reform of China's household registration system is to provide adequate public services to the migrant population, especially the migrant workers, in urban areas. Findings of specific analyses of public services needed by migrant workers show that the pressure on urban public services amid easing household registration access is mainly caused by the education service provision for the children of the migrant workers, accounting for 98.9 percent of the total financial costs. For most cities and towns with only a small proportion of migrant workers, local governments can provide schooling for the children of migrant workers through adjusting educational resources with flexibility within the region. However, a few urban areas, where the number of migrant population exceeds that of native residents, suffer from a large number of children of migrant workers, shortage in public education quotas, and high costs in many aspects. Local governments face difficulties such as the shortage of funds, insufficient construction land and the lack of quotas of teachers in public schools in the provision of compulsory education. In view of this, the government needs to provide policy and financial support for such regions to assist the expansion of public schools with compulsory education and ensure steady reforms of the household registration system.

Keywords: reforms of the household registration system, urban areas where immigrant population exceeds native residents, education for the children of migrant population