Nonie WigginsArkansas State University

March 30, 2010

Overview of the Education System in China

www.maps.com

Chinese Population by Gender

http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ch-china/Age-_distribution

History/Governance4000 years of Chinese Dynasties – feudalism

dominant Up to 1027 B.C. - Education was a privilege. Goal to

produce government officials. Focus on “Six Arts” – rites, music archery, chariot riding, history and mathematics.

770-221 B.C – Confucius philosophy dominant in educationPersonal conduct Principles of society & government

Opium War (1840-1842) – China lost to Britain. Western education introduced by Christian missionaries.

1911 Revolution, Sun Yat-sen ended monarchyMore western type educationDid not want to lose Chinese identity (Confucius)

1949 – Communist rule – “People’s Republic of China”Soviet Model of Education – focus on technological needsHigher ed. was focus – less than half children in primary &

secondary schoolMao’s “Walking on two legs” - balance of Western Education &

Confucian Vocation/work study Regular university, college & college prep

1966 – Cultural Revolution Classes stopped until fall 1967 – each level shortened Development of “commune” schools for agricultural regions

1976- present - Educational Reform was twofold “Four Modernizations” - agriculture, industry, national defense, science &

technology “Four Cardinal Principles” – the socialist road, the people’s democratic

dictatorship, the Chinese Communist Party leadership, and Marxim-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought

Educational elite schools weeded out Rural primary enrollment declined – children needed to work rather than

go to school 4 types of secondary schools – Keypoint middle schools, non-key general

or ordinary middle schools, specialized technical secondary schools, vocational schools

Surowski, D. http://math.ksu.edu/ dbski/publication/history.html

1985 – (Post Mao) – “Decision of the Reform of the Education System” To bring about the Four Modernizations To increase state funding for education To insure that the education system shall supply a

sufficient number of qualified personnel To institute a 9-year compulsory education policy To expand the system of technical and vocational

education To give provisions for reform of higher education (eg. To

change the system of job-assignments to graduates and to grant colleges and universities more decision making powers)

To strengthen educational leadership State Education Commission formed Allow president of a college or university to be the CEO

1995 – “Education Law of the People’s Republic of China”

Principles & General Objectives of Education “…Education in the People’s Republic of China

must serve the construction of the socialist modernization, be combined with production and labor, and foster builders and successors with all round development of morality, intelligence and physique for the socialist cause. Education shall be carried out in the spirit of inheriting and expanding the fine historical and cultural traditions of the Chinese nation and assimilating all the fine achievements of the civilization progress of human beings.”

World Data on Education. http://www.ibe.unesco.org

Goals of the ReformReduce youth illiteracy to <1% & increase adult

literacy to 90%.9 year compulsory education with 95%

enrollmentStrive for admission age of 6 yearsIncrease senior secondary enrollment to > 50%Increase higher ed. enrollment to 11% (9.5

million; 700/100,000 people)Further develop pre-service and in-service, job

transfer training, and continuing education to have a “comprehensive social education system and lifelong learning”

World Data on Education. http://www.ibe.unesco.org

Education System in China

Kindergarten

Pre-school class

Kindergarten

Pre-school class

Primary schoolPrimary school

Regular junior middle school

Vocational junior middle school

Regular junior middle school

Vocational junior middle school

Regular senior middle school

Secondary vocational school

Technical school

Vocational middle school

Regular senior middle school

Secondary vocational school

Technical school

Vocational middle school

Graduate school

University

College

Short-term vocational university

Advanced technical school

Graduate school

University

College

Short-term vocational university

Advanced technical school

Compulsory education

Higher education

Secondary education

Elementary education

Pre-school education

Outcomes of the ReformIncrease in kindergarten enrollment (36.8% in 2000;

47.3% in 2008)99% of primary students were admitted to junior

middle schools in 200779.9% of junior middle school students were

admitted to senior middle schools (29% increase since 2000)

106% more senior middle school students in 2007 than 2000

Increase in secondary vocational school students 10.4 million in 2000 to 19.8 million in 2007

Curriculum Examined – past curriculum placed too much focus on basic knowledge (rote memorization) and too little on practical courses.

“Hidden Assumptions of the Reform Policy”Youth key to developing the nation in the

future.Meaningful experiences are as important as

knowledge delivery.Students need to learn how to learn.The reform is for all of basic education.Reforms success depends on teachers and

students as well as the policy makers.

Feng, D. (2006). China’s recent curriculum reform: progress and problems. Planning and Changing. 37, 1&2, pp 131-144.

Integrated Practical Courses for Senior Middle SchoolsTo Provide:Field work for enrichmentDiscovery and problem solving skillsPractical skills and abilitiesFoster collaborationThroughResearch oriented studiesCommunity serviceHands on working activities

Information technology was also incorporated into the new curriculum Compulsory courses: information retrieval,

processing, expression, resource management, & information technology & society.

Electives – algorithm & program design, multimedia technology, network technology, data management, artificial intelligence

Providing Elective Courses Curriculum Structure of

Regular Senior Middle Schools

Language and

LiteratureC

hinese

Foreign Lan

guage

Mathem

atics

Mathem

atics

Hum

anities an

d S

ocial Scien

ce

Moral E

ducation

History

Geo

graphy

Science

Physics

Chem

istry

Biology

Technology

General T

echnology

Info Technology

PE

and H

ealth P

Eand H

ealth

Arts

Fine A

rts

Music

Arts

Integrated P

ractical Activities

Integrated P

ractical Activities

Fields of Study

Subjects

Modules Including compulsory and elective modules

Zhu Muju, Basic Education in China Presentation, March 2009

Three Tiered CurriculumGives more control locally

Class hours mandated by the state80-84% State mandated courses16-20% Local and school based courses

Zhu Muju, Basic Education in China Presentation, March 2009

Challenges and Criticisms of ReformLarger classesIncreased competition for school and college entrance

Primary schools are local. Others are competitive.Migration of teachers to urban areas – rural areas

have trouble with inflexible curriculumIncreased teacher workload.Local control may ignore student/parent interestsCultural dilemmas – Western v. Chinese leadership

styles among school leaders Government wants immediate outcomes – not

enough data yet.

Feng, D. (2006). China’s recent curriculum reform: progress and problems. Planning and Changing. 37, 1&2, pp 131-144.

Financing of Education in ChinaLocal schools are financed by local budgets.Central treasury of China also provides

some funding.2002 – Social investment in education

was1.94% of GDP State’s investment was 3.41% of GDP

Other financial inputSocial enterprisesExtra fees tuitionFundraisingDonations

Pre-school EducationNot compulsoryMore in urban than rural areas – full time,

part-time, boardingRural areas preschools are mainly nurseries

Photos: Farrell, L. (2004). An emergent curriculum in China: collaborative tolerance. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 59(2). 243-250.

Primary Education -Ideology & moral character Chinese languageMathSociety – not until 4th

NaturePEMusicPaintingWork –beginning grade 3

World Data on Education. http://www.ibe.unesco.org

Lower Secondary Ideology & politicsChinese languageMathForeign languageHistoryGeographyChemistryPhysicsBiologyPEMusic PaintingWork Skills

World Data on Education. http://www.ibe.unesco.org

Vocational EducationJunior vocational – part of the 9 years compulsory

(3-4 yrs)Mostly in rural areas to provide basic professional

knowledge & skills to workers, peasants & employees

Secondary vocational – (3-4 years) Practice oriented technical and normal schools

Tertiary vocational - (2 years)for high school and secondary vocational graduates.

Vocational training courses – managed by the department of education and labor but provided by the employers

Special EducationFor blind, deaf or mentally retarded

children and teens1539 special education schoolsSome students attend regular schoolMany are kept at home or institutionalized.

Some immigrate to US.

http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/38282.htm

Crawford, R. – personal conversation March 2010.

Classes/schoolsUniforms unique to each schoolSegregated either by school or by class in

higher grades

Higher EducationVery competitiveEntrance exams

Some problems with autonomous regions & municipalities

Moral assessment and physical constitution

Assessment of Higher Ed.Self-assessmentAdministrative organizationsSocial assessment

Graduation RequirementsComplete all coursesComplete thesisAre up to standard in morality.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.smellchina.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/wuhandaxue-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.smellchina.com/2009/10/wuhan-university/&usg=_

Teacher Education Examinations for best candidates Chinese citizen Must be sound ideologically and politically Good knowledge of pedagogy Good physique Graduate from:

normal school for pre-schools secondary normal schools for primary schools Two year normal colleges for junior-middle schools Normal or other universities & four year colleges for senior

secondary. Post-graduates or undergraduates from universities for teachers

of schools of higher learning Television outreach for teachers

Zhu, X. and Han, X. (2006). Reconstruction of the teacher education system in China. International Education Journal, 7(1). P 66-73.

DisciplineDo not bring shame to familyDiscipline is not usually a problemIn the past corporal punishment was used.

Other IssuesMilitary training for both girls & boys. Boys have

mandatory military serviceConformity is stressed. No individuality.All know standing in the class.

Grades are announcedShame if performance is not perfect

You are from the province of your ancestors.Must have foreign passport to attend private

institutions

Study abroad is encouraged. Many with PhD’s do not return

References

China in World Data on Education. 6th ed. Retrieved 1/20/10 from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/.

China Education. Retrieved from http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/china/239636.htm on 3/27/10.

Colb, S. (January 26, 2005). China announces that it will criminalize sex-selection abortions; what, if anything, should the U.S. do about the practice in this country: retrieved 3/28/10 from http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page_/colb/20050126.html.

Crawford, R. Personal communication 3/28/10.

Farrell, L. (2004). An emergent curriculum in China: collaborative tolerance. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 5(7), pp.243-250.

Feng, D. (2006). China’s recent curriculum reform: progress and problems. Planning and Changing. 37 (1&2). P. 131-144.

Introduction to China. Retrieved from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/china.htm. on 3/17/10.

King-Head, S. (2010). China-Us: PhD students stay on. University World News. Retrieved from http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story+2010030511225767 March 17, 2010.

Kvaternik, R. (2001). Teacher education through distance learning. Education Sector, Higher Education Division, Teacher EducationSection . Fontenoy, France.UNESCO

Ministry of the Education of the People’s Republic of China available at http://www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18

Muju, Z. (2009). Basic education and curriculum reform in China (Presentation).

Premier reports on Outline of new 5 year plan (II). Retrieved from http://english.peopledaily.com./english/200103/05 on 1/20/2010.

.

Special education and vocational education. Retrieved 3/28/10 from http://www.china.org/cn/english/features/38282.htm.

Surowski, D. editor. History of the educational system of China. Retrieved from http://www.math.ksu.edu/~dbski/publication/history.html. on 1/20/2010.

Zhu, X. & Han, X. (2006). Reconstruction of the teacher education system in China. International Education Journal. 7(1). 66-73.