Strategy Development to Improve Basic Educational Balance for Urban and Rural Education in Shaanxi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: (1) investigate the current problems in achieving balance in urban and rural basic education in Shaanxi Province, (2) develop a strategy to improve this balance, and (3) evaluate the adaptability, feasibility, effectiveness, and fairness of the proposed strategy. The study involved 175 teachers from urban and rural schools across 10 prefecture-level cities, 10 middle-level school managers, and 5 senior education experts. Research instruments included questionnaires, structured interviews, and expert assessments, with data analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. The findings indicate that urban education in Shaanxi Province is significantly more developed than rural education, with disparities in teacher performance, student quality, resource distribution, and funding. Many rural students migrate to urban schools, leaving behind a declining student population. To address these imbalances, the study proposes strategies such as strengthening teacher training, enhancing rural school quality, improving educational funding, and optimizing resource allocation. Expert evaluations confirmed that these strategies are highly adaptable and feasible for promoting balanced and sustainable urban-rural education development. These findings highlight the urgency of policy-driven educational reforms to bridge the urban-rural gap and ensure equitable learning opportunities in Shaanxi Province.