Education & Academia / Education Systems / Higher Education

The Gaokao s Great Debate -Perceptions and Debates on Preferential College Admission Policies for

Perceptions and Debates on Preferential College Admission Policies for Ethnic Minorities This article systematically examines the historical evolution of preferential college admission policies for ethnic minorities in China and the social logic underlying them, focusing on two differing value foundations: the “rights-based view” and the “compensation view.” By comparing practices in Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, and Guangxi, the author points out that the implementation of this policy is significantly adapted to local conditions and is not uniform. The article further discusses public doubts about the fairness of the policy, emphasizing that to achieve true social justice, the policy must shift toward “precision tailoring”—moving from identity-based preferences to targeted assistance for groups lacking educational resources. Finally, the author envisions that under new patterns of population mobility, preferential college admission policies are steadily moving toward reducing bonus points, standardizing management, and diversifying selection methods.