Parents – here’s how to deal with private school rejection

25 Jul 2019

In China, many parents have spoken up against the suggested changes to the country’s education system.

Aiming to improve the quality of the country’s compulsory education, the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Deepening the Reform of Education and Teaching and Improving the Quality of Compulsory Education were released this month.

One key objection was the transformation of private school entry tactics. The reform plans to implement a lottery system that randomly selects applicants and invites them to pursue their education at their desired private school.

This would make the entry process fairer when choosing from a pile of applications with similar grade results and would lessen the disappointment of both parents and students.

Highlighted by the online publication Sixth Tone, “Many Chinese parents believe private schools to be more selective than public schools, creating a more competitive environment for children and increasing their chances of getting into more prestigious educational institutions beyond middle school.”

But as one parent from Shanghai told the publication, “A lottery system means that, no matter how well you prepare your child, their enrollment will be based simply on luck – that’s not a very fair practice.”

In the global sphere of private education, money and status is simply not enough to guarantee students a spot in competitive cohorts.

Instead, private schools expect applicants to pass vigorous tests and challenging character-defining tasks to enter their institution.

Private school tests and applications are increasing in difficulty. Source: Shutterstock

How to deal with rejection

For parents that have invested time and money into the entry tests and application forms for a private school, it’s frustrating to find out that your child/children’s submission was declined – especially if it was at the hands of an automated lottery system.

So if this has happened to you, here are a few tips to help ease the decision and switch your outlook on the final verdict.

There are plenty more schools in the sea

If you didn’t get your first choice, don’t panic!

There are plenty more private schools to apply for and just as amazing public ones, too.

Rather than stressing out about not securing the first choice, remain calm and reassure your child that there are other options out there and that all other options lead to amazing opportunities.

Request feedback on the application

If they haven’t already, ask the school why they didn’t accept the application.

By understanding the faults or drawbacks of your submission, you can work your way around them for the next application or even correct them in the hope of being reconsidered.

There’s always space for feedback, positive or negative.

Don’t blame yourself

Being a parent, it’s normal to take responsibility for every academic challenge facing your child.

Questioning yourself and your application-filling skills isn’t worth the worry. Instead, keep a positive mindset and work out the next steps.

Also, remember to ask your child what they want.

Private or public, it’s their education. And if they’re old enough to make the decision, why not let them?

Across the world private education is booming. Though private schools and tuition promote inequality, Emma Duncan, our social policy editor, explains why governments should embrace the private sector’s rise https://t.co/fZ69l1eC7Q pic.twitter.com/3WEaSEqBl1

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 15, 2019