The Lower Secondary Education Policies in China of the 21st Century: The “Double Reduction” and Vocational General Streaming (GVS) Policy

Abstract

This literature review analyses two significant education policies in China at the beginning of the 21st century: the “double reduction” and the vocational general streaming (GVS) policy. It uses Bourdieu’s sociological model to analyze its impact on social class equality and empirical evidence to support whether students’ mental health improves due to the policies. The study suggests that the “double reduction” policy while reducing students’ psychological stress, has somewhat increased social inequality, and it is argued that the GVS policy has not been reformed on a large scale, taking into account the current situation of vocational education in China