According to a Caixin report, many contract teachers in Guangzhou’s Huangpu, Haizhu, Panyu and Huadu districts were dismissed by schools before their contracts expired. Due to declining birthrates, primary school enrollment in Guangzhou fell sharply by about 19.9% from 2023 to 2025, and contract teachers who had been hired in large numbers to cope with enrollment peaks now bear the brunt of layoffs.