China's Gaokao Reform Creates History Teacher Surplus: Half Face No Students to Teach
A high school in Henan Province, China, has seen nearly half its 20 history teachers left without students to teach after the new gaokao reform pushed students toward science subjects.
The Numbers
- School: A county-level high school in central Henan
- Total students: ~2,000 first-year students
- History track: Less than 170 students (down from ~600+)
- History classes: Cut from 6 to 3
- History teachers: 20 total, nearly half face no classes
- Province ratio: Physics:History approaching 7:3 or 8:2 in many provinces
The Trend
| Province | History % (2020) | History % (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Hunan | 41.34% | 30.81% |
| Fujian | 35.5% | 23.88% |
Why It's Happening
- Employment-driven choices: Students and parents prioritize STEM for job prospects
- Market pressure: 'If choices are completely driven by employment, the reform's purpose is weakened'
- School operations: Departments can't afford surplus staff
Analysis
This is an unintended consequence of China's '3+1+2' gaokao reform, which was designed to give students more choice. Instead, market forces have created a stampede toward science that's devastating humanities education. When nearly half your history teachers can't teach, the reform isn't expanding choices — it's eliminating them.
The deeper issue: China's labor market sends clear signals that STEM pays and humanities don't. No education reform can override economic reality. Until society values humanities education — not just in rhetoric but in hiring and compensation — the humanities exodus will continue.