September 1st marked the beginning of the new school year for elementary and middle schools in China. However, on the first day of school, the sudden closure of Shanghai Pudong Sanqiao Primary School sparked widespread discussions.
Established in 1916, Pudong Sanqiao Primary School has a history of 109 years. In recent years, an unusual phenomenon of having more teachers than students has emerged. This phenomenon is not unique to Shanghai. Analysis indicates that the sharp decline in China’s birth rate will lead to a nationwide wave of closures of elementary and middle schools.
Regarding the closure of Pudong Sanqiao Primary School, some netizens reported that they received a sudden notice of the school’s closure on the first day of school. Students were transferred to another school four kilometers away. On that day, some parents waited at the school gate for an explanation, as this change came as a sudden shock to them.
A resident near Pudong Sanqiao Primary School confirmed to a reporter that the school was indeed closed on the first day of classes. She mentioned that the parents of the school’s 22 students received a notice of the school reopening the day before, only for the school to close the next day.
It was reported that the school will arrange for these 22 students to attend Jinqiao Primary School, which is four kilometers away. Residents expressed concerns about the distance and the lack of direct bus service for the students living in Jinpu community. The elderly residents are unsure how to transport the children.
“What was supposed to be a happy first day of school turned into confusion for mothers waiting at the school gate, seeking answers with no one providing a clear explanation.”
The closure of the school caused a stir as the school had previously made headlines for having “23 staff members for only 22 students.”
Some netizens humorously commented, “One-on-one teaching is truly a luxury.”
Criticism has been directed at the Pudong Education Bureau for resource wastage, lack of adaptability by schools, and failure to integrate resources effectively.
According to the official announcement by the Pudong New Area Education Bureau, Sanqiao Primary School is a publicly-run school with five classes, 22 students, and 23 full-time teachers, maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 1.0.
Last year, a similar situation occurred where the school had 30 students, and this year it dropped to 22 students, reflecting a continuing trend of declining student numbers.
Parents reflected on a statement made by the school officials in the past, emphasizing that the school would stay open even if there was just one student left. A resident mentioned that the school authorities, faced with mounting criticism, opted for compromise as the root cause was the lack of student enrollment, not educational quality.
Shanghai blogger “Kun Ge” emphasized that the issue faced by Pudong Sanqiao Primary School is not unique but rather reflects a broader issue stemming from China’s plummeting birth rate. Official statistics from the Shanghai Statistical Bureau show a decrease of 30,000 first-grade students in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Moreover, with the declining birth rate in China, schools nationwide are grappling with the challenge of diminishing student populations. The closure of elementary and middle schools is becoming a prevalent trend across the country.
According to mainland media reports, Sanqiao Primary School had the lowest student-teacher ratio among the mentioned schools, with most public schools having a ratio exceeding 10.0.
In a separate incident last year, a primary school in downtown Shanghai, Huaihai Middle Road School, enrolled only 17 first-grade students, sparking public concern about the declining student enrollments in urban areas.
As perceived by many, the fundamental reason for the sharp decrease in childbirth rates in China lies in a complex interplay of socio-economic factors. Blogger “Xian Che Dan” attributed the core reason for the lack of students to the drastic decline in China’s birth rate.
He elaborated on several contributing factors, including the exorbitant cost of raising children, rising education expenses, and the disparity between income levels and living costs, which have led to a situation where young people find it challenging to support themselves, let alone raise a child.
He highlighted the shift in societal values, where young people are increasingly prioritizing personal freedom over marriage and child-rearing, evidenced by the plummeting marriage registration numbers in recent years.
In conclusion, the ongoing decline in China’s birth rate, despite government incentives, reflects deeper-rooted anxieties among the youth due to soaring housing prices, unstable employment conditions, and prolonged working hours. Cash incentives alone cannot alleviate the accumulated stress and emotional fatigue caused by these underlying concerns.
A mainland interviewee expressed candidly, “Only when you believe in a promising future would you feel the urge to have children. Currently, raising children seems like a trap, especially for women.”