Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of declining birth rates on primary education in China, highlighting the phenomenon of schools closing due to insufficient student enrollment and the resulting surplus of teachers [4][5][6]. Group 1: Declining Student Enrollment - The closure of Shanghai Sanqiao Primary School, which had more teachers than students, exemplifies the trend of declining student enrollment due to falling birth rates [4]. - Nationally, primary school enrollment dropped to 16.17 million in 2024, a decrease of 2.61 million from the previous year, with the number of primary schools also declining by 7,200 [4][5]. - The birth rate in China peaked in 2016 at 17.86 million and has since declined, leading to a significant drop in the number of school-age children [7][8]. Group 2: Teacher Surplus and Reallocation - By 2035, the total demand for primary education teachers in China is projected to decrease from 15.70 million in 2025 to 10.37 million, a reduction of 5.33 million [6][9]. - Many regions are experiencing a surplus of primary school teachers, prompting some to be reassigned to teach middle and high school students [11][12]. - In 2024, the teacher-student ratio in primary schools was reported at 1:16.06, the lowest in a decade, indicating an oversupply of teachers [9][10]. Group 3: Teacher Transition Strategies - Various regions have initiated programs to transition primary school teachers to middle schools, with many teachers required to possess relevant qualifications [14][16]. - The transition of teachers is seen as a strategy to address the shortage of middle school teachers while managing the surplus in primary education [16][17]. - The article highlights the need for a structured mechanism to facilitate teacher mobility and ensure that teachers are adequately prepared for their new roles [21]. Group 4: Small Class Teaching as a Response - Experts advocate for the implementation of small class teaching as a means to optimize teacher resources and improve educational quality amidst declining student numbers [23][24]. - Small class teaching, which limits class sizes to no more than 35 students, is viewed as a way to enhance personalized education and better utilize existing teaching staff [24][25]. - However, there are concerns that small class teaching may not fully address the underlying issues of teacher surplus and resource allocation [25][26].