In rural areas of China, the limited availability of educational resources and insufficient teaching staff have been a major concern regarding the quality of education for rural children. In order to address this issue, many schools and organizations have started exploring family-school-community collaborations in education to provide better educational resources and services for rural children.

Staff members of the CLC project team from INRULED (right 1&2) with Professor Sun Qingzhong (left 1), the founder of Chuanzhong Community College, and Guo Wenyan (right 4), the principal of Chuanzhong Kindergarten.

From May 30 to June 1, 2023, Dr. Ji Bingsi, postdoctoral fellow, and project assistant Wu Yunfei from the International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED), visited Xipingluo Township Central Kindergarten (Chuanzhong Kindergarten) in Huixian City of Henan Province. The purpose of the visit was to conduct research and gain insights into the implementation and outcomes of family-school-community collaboration in education in rural areas of central China.

In 2014, with the support and guidance of Professor Sun Qingzhong from China Agricultural University, Chuanzhong Community College was formally established, relying on Chuanzhong Kindergarten. It closely connects preschool education and adult lifelong education, breaks down the "wall" between school and village, and allows the school to play a greater role in the community.

During the research, members of the CLC project team from INRULED dived into the specific practices and outcomes of Chuanzhong Community College in terms of family-school-community collaborations. Led by the staff of Chuanzhong Community University, the research team observed the environment and teaching facilities, and engaged in discussions with the school teachers to understand the development of local preschool education and community education. The CLC project team members conducted an interview with the administrators and teachers of Chuanzhong Kindergarten, focusing on three dimensions of family-school-community collaboration in education: awareness, action, and evaluation .

In addition, members of the CLC project team were invited to attend the anniversary celebration events of Chuanzhong Community College. During the event, the school's teachers and students showcased wonderful performances, demonstrating the distinctive features and educational achievements of Chuanzhong Community College.

Speech by Professor Sun Qingzhong at the celebratory event

Students' Handmade Crafts

Celebration Performance for the 9th Anniversary of Chuanzhong Community College

The INRULED plans to explore how rural community learning centres promote family-school-community collaborations in education through a situation analysis. The aim is to analyze its underlying mechanisms and principles, and provide specific recommendations for the future. The findings of this research will be included as part of the INRULED's research report titled "Situation Analysis of Family-School-Community Collaborations in Education in Rural Areas of China", which is expected to be published in 2024.