Guanshanhu improves access to quality education

Guanshanhu district in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, has expanded access to quality education over the past five years, building and upgrading 60 schools and creating 42,000 additional school places.

The expansion has helped ease pressure on school admissions and narrow gaps in educational resources between urban and rural areas.

During the same period, the district established one provincial-level Grade II model senior high school, 60 public schools supported under a provincial school-strengthening initiative, and five provincial-level model kindergartens. It also passed a national assessment for the universalization and inclusive development of preschool education.

Alongside expanding capacity, Guanshanhu has worked to improve teaching quality and student development. Schools have implemented China's "double reduction" policy, which aims to ease excessive homework and off-campus tutoring burdens, while offering extracurricular clubs to support students' interests and broader development.

The district has also launched five teacher development programs targeting rural educators, young teachers, experienced and leading teachers, class advisers, and school principals. These initiatives aim to strengthen teaching skills and support professional development across the district.

Guanshanhu is also piloting closer cooperation among groups of schools, helping urban schools with stronger educational resources work with less-resourced rural schools.

Through continued investment in school facilities, teacher development, and more equitable resource allocation, the district aims to give more children access to quality education close to home.