Preference for General over Vocational Tracks: An Investigation Based on a Survey of 21,531 Junior Secondary Students from Three Autonomous Prefectures

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the issue of preference for general over vocational tracks (PFGOVT) at the senior secondary education level in ethnic minority areas as well as the underlying reasons. The research team conducted a survey of 21,531 ninth-grade students from three autonomous prefectures where ethnic minority populations predominate, namely, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, and Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. The survey was preceded by in-person interviews with certain numbers of junior secondary students, parents, teachers, and local educational officials.