Gaokao Numbers Reveal a More Prudent China The latest gaokao numbers show a decline in registered candidates, with 12. 9 million students taking the national higher education entrance examination this year.
While demographics undoubtedly play a role in this contraction, the more intriguing question is what lies beneath the surface of these statistics: are Chinese families losing faith in education as a path to prosperity?
To answer this, we need to look beyond the gaokao itself and examine the broader choices that households are making about their children's futures.