Following the latest school admission policy for students from migrant families, parents of junior high school graduates who do not have a Shenzhen hukou — or permanent local residency — are concerned that their children may be unable to enter local high schools.

    The policy by the Shenzhen Municipal Government states that those who are not holders of a Shenzhen hukou can only apply for compulsory education in the city by presenting five documents: residence permits of their parents, a certificate of parents’ home ownership or home rental agreement, their parents’ social security or business license, a certificate of family planning, and proof of student status.

    Among the 1.28 million students who are receiving compulsory education in Shenzhen, 870,000 are not holders of a Shenzhen hukou — accounting for 67.8 percent of the total.

    It is estimated that 20,000 Shenzhen students cannot meet all the requirements detailed in the regulations. In previous years, these students often chose to continue their senior high school studies in privately owned schools. But this year the regulations have been tightened so that such students cannot register with a student administration office.

    In the principal’s office of Jianwen Middle School, a privately owned school in Longgang District, many parents were making enquiries for their children, as they do not have the required documents. The parents are concerned that the policy may prevent their children from entering high school in Shenzhen.

    “When I saw this policy, I felt like my child is an outcast “ said one mother surnamed Li, who is unable to obtain permanent local residency.

    Her son moved to Shenzhen from his hometown in Sichuan Province but can no longer keep up with the courses offered at senior high schools in his hometown, and her son may have difficulties taking the junior high school graduation exam back home in Sichuan. (Zhao Jie)