ScholarOne - Support or Oppose? Analyzing Public Opinion on China’s
“Double Reduction” Policy in Education
Abstract
To address the escalating stress of private tutoring, the Chinese
government introduced the “Double Reduction” policy, aiming to
disconnect private tutoring from financial resources. This policy
spurred significant public debate. It’s crucial to understand public
perception of this policy for effective implementation. Utilizing data
from a national online platform for public complaints and suggestions
post-implementation, this study performed automated text analysis and
statistical description of public attitudes. Findings indicate that over
60% of comments were ambiguous about the “Double Reduction” policy.
Public support initially waned but subsequently grew. In more
economically advanced areas, discussions about the policy were common,
yet support was lower. Major public concerns revolved around the quality
of school education, teacher salaries, and refunds from tutoring
institutions. This study underscores the need for enhanced policy
implementation. It offers global governance insights from China’s
experience in regulating private tutoring, outlining major challenges
and strategies.