This article documents the characteristics of social work education development through a review of its history. On this basis, it highlights the choices that had to be made in the goals, path of development, academic administration, personnel training, teachers' interests, and other areas in meeting the challenges of the new century.

China's economic and social development requires professional social work. To achieve the professionalization of social work in China, we must focus on its indigenization, change the function of mass organizations, and improve the professional quality of existing social work personnel. We must also pay attention to promoting social work…

The author traces the origin of social work to the Confucian concept of Great Unity and social organization of traditional Chinese society. While professional social work started in 1921, its development was interrupted in 1952, but the practice of social work never stopped. Social work was revived as a discipline and profession in 1979 and has…

Based on research involving 177 primary and secondary schools spread over thirty-eight counties in six provinces (including one autonomous region), this article explores and analyzes four modes used in rural school consolidation in China. These four modes are: complete amalgamation, annexation, crossover, and centralization-decentralization.

Reform of the College Entrance Examination is trending toward simultaneous unification and diversification. The objective of reforming the entrance exam is to establish a college enrollment examination system that is primarily based on a unified test, which would assess students' abilities, appraise them on multiple levels, and classify them.…

This article reviews the reform trends and policies on the College Entrance Examination (CEE) in Shanghai, one of China's most developed cities. The author divides the CEE reforms in Shanghai into three historical stages: 1977 to 1992, 1992 to 1999, and 2000 to present. Employing the method of case studies, the author analyzes the rationales and…

Designing and reforming the subjects on the College Entrance Examination, based on the new curriculum, are the focal point and also the most difficult aspect of entrance exam reform. The entrance exam subject programs instituted in more than ten "subject reform" regions in China, including the provinces of Shandong, Ningxia, Guangdong, Hainan, and…

The new entrance exam reform programs that have been presented in a number of provinces and regions adhere to the direction of new curriculum reform. Within these programs, comprehensive evaluation serves as the weather vane for quality education. The high school academic proficiency test serves as a firmly fixed benchmark for learning ability,…

From the perspective of an economic analysis of the intertwined role of the educational opportunities market and the educational products market, I believe that the unified entrance exam system currently in effect in China has, in reality, assumed the role of maintaining a price ceiling for opportunities in higher education. If we abolish the…

Differences of view have always existed regarding the legal relationship between colleges and students, where the national College Entrance Examinations (CEEs) are concerned. Proceeding from the legal nature of independent student recruitment powers during CEEs, of CEE application forms, and of college enrollment charters, this article maintains…

This article reviews policies for adding points on the College Entrance Examination. It analyzes the rationales and specific implementation strategies of various policies for adding points on the entrance exam, as well as their advantages and pitfalls. Based on these observations and analysis, the author also offers policy recommendations on the…

This article concludes the two issues on the College Entrance Examination (CEE) in which the contributing authors were invited to take part in a moderated discussion of their opinions on a newly unveiled national policy document titled "Blueprint for Medium and Long-Term National Education Reform and Development (2010-0)" (hereafter, the…

This article analyzes the influences of family background and institutional factors on the acquisition of education (1940-2001) and demonstrates that the increase or decrease in the inequality of educational opportunity allocations are closely linked to the government's relevant policies. The rapid growth of the inequality in educational…

After a brief review of the achievements and the problems in compulsory education enrollment in the thirty years since the reform and opening up, this study analyzes the current compulsory education enrollment and dropout rates in China's least-developed regions and the factors affecting school enrollment based on survey data from a small sample…

What changes have taken place in the equalization of opportunities for entering higher education in China since the 1990s? The results of empirical analyses of nationwide urban and rural data conducted in the first part of this article indicate that, if the internal stratification within institutions of higher education is not considered,…