Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Double Reduction Policy in Alleviating Student Pressure

Abstract: The Chinese government launched the Double Reduction Policy in 2021, which aims to reduce the excessive academic burden on primary and secondary school students by limiting homework and regulating extracurricular tutoring. The policy was implemented in response to growing concerns about the immense academic pressure students face, which has led to widespread anxiety, sleep deprivation and mental health problems. This paper explores the effects of the double reduction policy on students' academic stress and its limitations. The findings show that although the double reduction policy has achieved some success in reducing students' learning burdens both in and out of school, increasing sleep time, and alleviating anxiety and depression, its effectiveness is limited by the variability of after-school services in schools and the persistence of parents' demand for tutorials. In addition, social prejudice against vocational education and the competitive nature of higher education admissions have not alleviated students' academic pressure. This paper argues that more efforts are needed in the equitable distribution of educational resources, increased recognition of vocational education, and adjustment of parental expectations to reduce students' pressure further.