ABSTRACT
Children living with rural migrant workers are actually second-generation migrants in China’s cities. Whether they can be integrated into urban society is considered as a political issue related to social stability. This chapter systematically analyzes the main obstacles to the integration of children of rural migrant workers into urban society and puts forward practical suggestions. First, vocational and technical education should be vigorously developed and high-school education should be gradually made available to the children of rural migrant workers to give them more and better education and employment opportunities. Second, non-governmental organizations should be encouraged to provide educational and social services for the children of rural migrant workers. Third, Young Pioneers and the Communist Youth League should provide more care for and enrol more children of rural migrant workers. Finally, communities and schools should serve as the main platforms to promote the integration of the children of rural migrant workers into urban society. In order for such children to truly integrate into urban society, the situation should be fundamentally changed so that rural migrant workers are economically accepted but socially excluded during the process of semi-urbanization.
(The author is an Associate Professor of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University.)
