Shadow Education: The Rise and Implications of Private Supplementary Tutoring

Abstract

Among the significant changes in China’s education sector during the last three decades has been the rise of private supplementary tutoring. This phenomenon is widely called shadow education, in part because as the curriculum changes in the schools, so it changes in the shadow. While much more empirical work is needed in China, enough data exist to permit an overall picture to be sketched. The picture shows that urban children receive more shadow education than rural ones, and that children from prosperous families receive more shadow education than ones from poor families. These features match patterns elsewhere. However, China is distinctive because of the one-child policy and the speed of economic growth. The chapter presents data on shadow education received by students at both primary and secondary levels. It notes three main categories of providers of shadow education: commercial enterprises, individuals such as university students who operate on an informal basis, and school teachers who provide tutoring in addition to their regular duties. The chapter considers the policy implications of patterns and trends, as well as the need for further research.