Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
Home> Volumes> Volume CHR Vol.40> Article
Research Article

The Impact of Meritocracy on Higher Education: A Perspective from College Admissions Policies in Mainland China

Siyu DuSichuan Film and Television University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This study examines the impact of meritocracy on higher education in mainland China, focusing on university admission policies. Since the reform and opening-up period, China’s economic and educational advancements have increasingly emphasized elitism, particularly in allocating university admission slots through mechanisms like the Gaokao. The analysis, conducted from historical and contemporary perspectives, reveals that while elitism has optimized the distribution of educational resources, it has also deepened social inequalities. Despite their intent to promote fairness, policies such as the provincial quota system and independent admissions have widened regional and urban-rural disparities in educational resources. Furthermore, government initiatives like targeted poverty alleviation and regional preferential policies have had limited success in addressing these disparities. The study concludes that while elitism has centralized high-quality educational resources, it has hindered upward social mobility, especially for students from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds, highlighting the need for comprehensive reforms to achieve educational equity and social justice.

Keywords: Meritocracy; Higher Education; Admission Policies; Distributive Justice; Equal Opportunities
Published: September 27, 2024
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/40/20242314
Volume: CHR Vol.40
pp. 107-115
Download PDF

References

  1. Wu, G.X. & Du, S.J. (2018). The development of higher education in China over the past forty years of reform and opening up. Social Development Research, 17(2), 5-25.
  2. Eiras, P.R.S. (2020). Cultural identity of Chinese students in a transnational university in China (Doctoral dissertation, University of Surrey).
  3. Liu, Y. (2016). Higher education, meritocracy and inequality in China. Springer.
  4. Wang, J.H. (2022). Why Does Meritocracy Fail in Higher Education?. Journal of Nanjing Normal University (Education Science Edition) (04), 1-12. doi:10.19563/j.cnki.sdjk.2022.04.001.
  5. Zou, Y. (2018). Educational opportunity between meritocracy and equity: A review of the National College Entrance Examination in China since 1977. Testing and Inclusive Schooling, 34-46.
  6. Ji, Q.C. (2018). Examination and enrollment linkage: The value, dilemma and countermeasures of the reform of gaokao subjects. China Exam, (6), 10-15.
  7. Wang, H.X. (2008). Fairness Research of the College Entrance Examination Policy in China. Journal of Central China Normal University.
  8. Li, L., & Wu, Q.X. (2020). From Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities to Equal Development: An Analysis Based on China’s Tilted Admission Policy. Educational Research, 41(3), 95-105.
  9. Allen, A. (2011). Michael Young’s the rise of the meritocracy: A philosophical critique. British Journal of Educational Studies, 59(4), 367-382.
  10. Markovits, D. (2019). The meritocracy trap. Penguin UK.
  11. Bell, D. (2019). The coming of post-industrial society. In Social Stratification, Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective, Second Edition (pp. 805-817). Routledge.
  12. Feng, T. (2023). Eugenicism: value, critique and its correction. Exploration and Controversy (10), 93-102+178-179.
  13. Sandel, M.J. (2020). The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good?. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
  14. Ji, Q.C. (2023). The Historical Rationale and Innovation Direction of China’s College Enrollment System. Heilongjiang Higher Education Research (10), 41-45. doi:10.19903/j.cnki.cn23-1074/g.2023.10.002.
  15. Zhang, H.J. (2019). The dilemma of the “Scores-only” Enrollment: the Root of the Concept and System. China Exam (01), 10-14+39. doi:10.19360/j.cnki.11-3303/g4.2019.01.002.
  16. Zhang, Y.Q. (2010). The Independent Recruitment Reform in Higher Education Institutions: Motivation, Challenges, and Approaches. Peking University Education Review (02), 30-42+187-188. doi:10.19355/j.cnki.1671-9468.2010.02.004.
  17. Qing, X.L. & H, T.S. (2020). The University Enrollment Quotas System: Public Responsiveness and Media Moderating Influence in China. Jiangsu Higher Education, (1), 38-46.
  18. Zhao, Y.L. (2007). A General Account of the Favorable Policy to the Minority Examinees in the Enrollment of College Entrance Examination and the Reality Analysis. Education and Examination (04), 35-39. doi:10.16391/j.cnki.jyks.2007.04.015.
  19. Hogan, R., & Emler, N.P. (1981). Retributive justice. In The justice motive in social behavior: Adapting to times of scarcity and change (pp. 125-143). Boston, MA: Springer US.
  20. Olsthoorn, J. (2013). Hobbes’s account of distributive justice as equity. British Journal for the history of philosophy, 21(1), 13-33.
  21. Mulligan, T. (2018). Justice and the meritocratic state (p. 238). Taylor & Francis.
  22. Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. (2023). Available at: http://www.moe.gov.cn/ [Accessed on 24 August 2024].
  23. Yang, D.P. (2021). The Ideal and Reality of Educational Equity in China. BEIJING BOOK CO. INC.
  24. Du R.J. (2022). Motivations, Challenges, and Future Directions of “College Special” Enrollment Policies. Educational Economics Review (03), 23-45. doi:10.19512/j.cnki.issn2096-2088.2022.03.006.
  25. Rawls, J. (2001). Justice as fairness: A restatement. Harvard University Press.
  26. Gordon, E.W. (1999). Education and justice: A view from the back of the bus. Teachers College Press.
  27. Xun, Z.F. & Wang, Q.H. (2011). Independent enrollment: A Battle Field for Elite Student. Tsinghua University Education Research (02), 56-63. doi:10.14138/j.1001-4519.2011.02.012.
  28. Bao, W. (2012). An Empirical of Independent Admission Policy of Higher Education Institution: Based on the perspectives of fairness and efficiency. Educational Development Research (19), 1-7. doi:10.14121/j.cnki.1008-3855.2012.19.004.
  29. Yang, M.Y., Miao, T.X., Li, W, Y & Sun, B.C. (2023). An Impact Evaluation of Social Stratification for University Independent Enrollment in China. Shandong Higher Education (03), 33-41.
  30. Piff, P.K., Kraus, M.W., & Keltner, D. (2018). Unpacking the inequality paradox: The psychological roots of inequality and social class. In Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 57, pp. 53-124). Academic Press.
  31. Wu, J. (2012). Analysis of the Relationship between Higher Education and Social Mobility. Journal of South China Normal University (Social Science Edition), 4, 28-31.
  32. Bourdieu, P. (2018). Distinction a social critique of the judgement of taste. In Inequality (pp. 287-318). Routledge.
  33. Li, L. (2009). Why the proportion of rural college students is less than half. The Road to Success (03), 1.
  34. Wen, D.M. (2005). The impact of family background on higher education opportunities and graduate employment in China. Peking University Education Review (03), 58-63. doi:10.19355/j.cnki.1671-9468.2005.03.010.
  35. Wu, X.G & Li, Z.L. (2017). Independent Enrollment and Talent Selection in Chinese Higher Education. Social Science Digest (11), 65-67.
  36. Baraldi, C., & Corsi, G. (2017). Niklas Luhmann: Education as a social system (pp. 1-4). Cham: Springer.
  37. Meyer, K. (2014). Education, Justice and the Human Good. Routledge.