Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2025, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (7): 1-12.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2025.07.001

   

The Right to Education Without Independent Choice Is Not a Truly Equal Right to Education

Kaisheng Lao, Xuanhao Ma   

  1. College of Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
  • Accepted:2025-04-02 Online:2025-07-01 Published:2025-06-28

Abstract:

Equality in the right to education is not only about material and opportunity equality, but also about differentiated educational needs and choices. Analysis of the frequency of articles and words on educational equality and educational choice shows that there is a strong academic interaction and fusion of perspectives between educational choice and educational equality. There are three different perspectives on the recognition of the equality of the right to education, namely, the jurisprudential perspective that combines rights and obligations, the economic perspective based on equality and efficiency, and the pedagogical perspective premised on autonomous choice. In order to truly realize the right to education on the basis of autonomous choice, it is necessary to replace non-discriminatory equality in education with optional equality in education; to replace rigid education systems with flexible education systems; and to replace exclusionary, closed and unsustainable education policies and laws with more inclusive, open and sustainable education policies and laws.

Key words: the right to education, equality in education, independent choice