In China, the move from the farm to the city of more than 400 million people has been hailed as one of the biggest measures of China’s success.  It is a process that has been catalyzed by the economic opportunities found in cities for those willing to work hard on construction sites, withing factories, and the streets.

Initially, the move was largely of able bodied men and women over the age of 15 who would venture to the city. send money back home, and make other sacrifices for the future of their families.  However, as these migrants developed ties to the east coast cities, and as community based service providers came online, many began settling down and bringing their children to live with them.

Located often on the fringes of the city’s development, these schools offer a wide range of conditions for the students attending lessons.  Often lacking in equipment, trained teachers, and a sense of stability, these schools are run as for-profit ventures, run by members of the community, and while not providing a Shanghai/ Beijing level of service - are providing a level of service higher than could be found “back home”.

To date, few have taken the time to really study the migrant school.  Often any research completed is as part of programming, and typically the information is kept proprietary.  however, last year members of the Loving Heart Association set to change that through a comprehensive study of Shanghai’s migrant schools.

Available in English (download here) and Chinese (Download here), the findings of the report are very insightful:

1. Current number of migrant schools in Shanghai: >250
2. Number of migrant schools surveyed: 78
3. 1990 – Minhang district started with the earliest migrant schools
4. 80% migrant schools are registered with the local education authority in Shanghai, 20 are registered in other provinces, e.g. Anhui
5. Most migrant children living in central districts (e.g. Huangpu, Jing’an, Luwan, Xuhui, Hongkou) have been absorbed into local schools, due to falling school populations and the fact that the migrant population in central districts is relatively small.
6. Four schools for migrants (all in Pudong) have been registered as regular private Shanghai schools by the local education authority, and more will become regular Shanghai schools in the future (though they will continue to serve the migrant population).
7. Some schools have been specifically set up as state schools for migrants by the local education authorities, e.g. Yucai School in Huangpu District and Huayuan School in Minhang.
8. Many migrant schools use school premises vacated by local state schools whom have moved into better premises (for example, 38 out of 47 schools in Songjiang district)
9. Other schools have been converted from old factories and warehouse.
10. A few schools have been established by companies in Shanghai which employ migrant workers