Shanghai Public Schools Migrant Children's Education Survey Study

The labor force has flowed much more frequently in China since the reform and opening-up policy was carried out. A lot of rural people, followed by their school-aged children, go to cities for work. Nowadays, there are nearly 400,000 children of migrant workers in Shanghai. In order to implement the policy that the government receiving the influx of the children of migrant workers should be responsible for their compulsory education and these children should be mainly enrolled in public primary and middle schools,since 2004, the children of migrant workers have been enrolled on a large scale in public primary and middle schools in Shanghai.These policies and measures basically ensure that the children of migrant workers can receive compulsory education in cities, but they confront many problems in their study as well as in their life due to the differences between city and country regarding economy, culture and education. It's the burning issue of the day that we should let these children enjoy equal education opportunities with urban children, live in harmony with the urban culture as soon as possible and grow up well in the new environment.Taking four public primary and middle schools in Xuhui District in Shanghai as cases, with the help of inquiries and interviews, this paper analyzes the educational actualities of children of migrant workers from the point of their study, home environment, growing-up and socialization. The paper also makes a summary of the problems and difficulties in the education of children of migrant workers and proposes pertinent suggestions and solutions.To construct a harmonious society demands to solve the educational problems of children of migrant workers. To create a healthy educational environment and cultivate a well-developed personality of children of migrant workers is of great significance to improve the population quality so as to embrace the challenge of the new century.