Local political power and minority schooling: Some examples from Tu Yao ethnic minority in South China

Abstract

This paper argues that, when examining the poor schooling performances among subordinate ethnic groups, we should not only pay special attention to its economic and social-cultural context such as religious beliefs, language and traditional costumes, but the local power as well. This paper is one of the results of the author’s field research among Tu Yao people, and tries to explore the relation between local power and schooling, especially schooling among subordinate ethnic groups.