In an unprecedented educational reform addressing demographic challenges, Shengsi County in China’s Zhejiang Province has eliminated selective admissions for high school education, guaranteeing placement for all local students. This landmark policy, effective from the 2025 fall semester, ensures automatic admission to regular high schools for all registered residents and qualifying students in this remote archipelago.
The initiative emerged from critical demographic pressures facing the island county of 64,000 people. With severely declining birth rates and persistent outmigration threatening regional development, educational authorities implemented this structural solution to maintain educational quality and accessibility. The first implementation cycle demonstrated remarkable success, achieving 100% enrollment of all 266 applicants and raising the county’s regular high school attendance rate to 81%.
This policy has ignited substantial public discourse across China, where average senior high school admission rates typically hover around 50%. Many social media commentators have noted the inevitable reduction in academic pressure as school-aged populations decline nationwide, viewing Shengsi’s approach as a potential model for broader educational transformation.
Education Bureau Director Qiu Cun’an emphasized the policy’s replicability potential: ‘Accessible, quality education represents the fundamental aspiration of every island resident. Our recent advancements in educational excellence provide a foundation for further enhancing our educational ecosystem, ensuring every Shengsi child receives premium education opportunities.’
The reform represents a significant departure from traditional competitive education systems, offering insights into how remote communities might adapt educational infrastructure to address demographic realities while maintaining educational standards.