Chinese NGOs, The Case of Migrant Children's Education

Abstract: Education is widely acknowledged as central to development. Equal access to education for internal migrant children in Chinese cities is hindered by various institutional barriers and additional disadvantages with poor quality schools. Meanwhile, Chinese NGOs are stepping in to bridge this educational gap. This thesis examines in what ways NGOs are able to influence migrant children’s education, within a context where NGOs are tightly controlled by the state. Using previous research and fieldwork interviews of two Chinese NGOs, the findings suggest they are able to meet the immediate educational and social needs of the children. It also concludes that the NGOs are conditioned by the state and unable to influence greater structural impediments for migrant children’s education attainment.