The introduction of modern education

Following the defeat of the Chinese empire in the Opium Wars, modern western education was eagerly sought out in the domains of foreign languages, national defence, and new techniques of industrial production. The Capital Foreign Language House () was set up in 1862. Countless overseas students were sent by the government or by their families to Europe, USA, and Japan. In the late 19th century, several modern universities were founded, such as Peking University and Jiaotong University.

Education in the People's Republic of China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education. All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age six or seven, followed by six years of secondary education for ages 12 to 18.^{[clarification needed]} Some provinces may have five years of primary school but four years for middle school. There are three years of middle school and three years of high school. The Ministry of Education reported a 99 percent attendance rate for primary school and an 80 percent rate for both primary and middle schools.^{[citation needed]} In 1985, the government abolished tax-funded higher education, requiring university applicants to compete for scholarships based on academic ability.

In the early 1980s the government allowed the establishment of the first private schools.

China has had a major expansion in education, increasing the number of undergraduates and people who hold doctoral degrees fivefold in 10 years.^[4] In 2003 China supported 1,552 institutions of higher learning (colleges and universities) and their 725,000 professors and 11 million students (see List of universities in the People's Republic of China). There are over 100 National Key Universities, including Beijing University and Tsinghua University. Chinese spending has grown by 20% per year since 1999, now reaching over $100bn, and as many as 1.5 million science and engineering students graduated from Chinese universities in 2006. China published 184,080 papers as of 2008.^[5]

Laws regulating the system of education include the Regulation on Academic Degrees, the Compulsory Education Law, the Teachers Law, the Education Law, the Law on Vocational Education, and the Law on Higher Education. See also: Law of the People's Republic of China

China has set up an education system with government as the major investor and social partners as co-investors. In the current stage, local government is playing a key role in compulsory education, while central and provincial governments are dominant in higher education. The national Ministry of Education is the supreme education administrative body in China, and is responsible for carrying out the relevant laws, regulations, guidelines and policies, activating and guiding education reforms and integrating and coordinating educational initiatives nd programs nationwide.

In addition, the Chinese government pays attention to guarantee citizens' rights to get education especially the right of the minorities, women and disabled people, by making appropriate laws.

Since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded, the government has always placed education high on its agenda. Through uninterrupted efforts over the past five decades, China has made significant progress. A nine-year compulsory education is being implemented in planned stages nationwide and primary schooling is now available to 91% of the Chinese population. Institutions of higher learning such as occupational polytechnic, diversified adult and ethical schools have also been developed rapidly.

China has set up an educational system where government is the major investor and social partners are co-investors. In its current stage, local government is playing a key role in compulsory education, while central and provincial governments are dominant in higher learning. The Ministry of Education is responsible for carrying out the related laws, regulations, guidelines and policies of the central government. It is also in charge of planning the development of the education sector, integrating and coordinating initiatives and programs nationwide, and maneuvering and guiding reform countrywide. In recent years, non-government investment has been moving into the educational sector, providing more seats for more applicants.

Financial allocation is still the major source of the education budget. At present, funds needed by schools directly and controlled by the central government come from the central financial pool; schools controlled by local governments are supported by local finance etc. Other types of arrangements include schools sponsored by small town and village governments in combination with public institutions, which are mainly financed by the sponsor institutions and subsidized by local governments. As well, funds needed by schools operated by social partners and celebrities are raised by the sponsors themselves (including collecting tuition from students and soliciting contributions). In addition to these sources, the central government is advocating work-study programs, aiming at improving the education conditions through premium services.

Education System

A Class of Elementary School

China's education system is composed of four components: basic, occupational/polytechnic, common higher and adult education.

Basic Education
Chinese government has always listed basic education as one of its top priorities. Since 1986, primary schooling has prevailed in most areas of China, while junior middle schooling is being to be implemented in large cities and economically developed areas. Up to 1999, there were 582,300 primary schools countrywide with an enrollment of 135.5 million and moderate development had been made in junior middle schooling. By 1999, there were 64,400 junior middle schools nationwide with admission of 21.8 million and enrollment of 58.1 million. In addition, there were 14,100 high schools nationwide with admission of 3,963,200 and enrollment of 10.54 million. In 1999, there were also 1,520 special schools opened for hearing impaired and mentally disabled children, with an enrollment of 371,600. More than half of the handicapped children had access to basic education. There were 181,110 kindergartens nationwide with an enrollment of 23.2 million.

Medium-level Occupational and Polytechnic Education
This section is mainly composed of medium-level professional schools, polytechnic schools, occupational middle schools and short-term occupational and technical training programs of various forms.

Up to 1997, there were 33,464 occupational and polytechnic schools nationwide with an enrollment of 18.7 million.

NorthWest University of Politics and Law

Common Higher Education
It is comprised of junior college, bachelor, masters and doctoral degree programs. Junior college programs usually last two or three years; bachelor programs four years (medical and some engineering and technical programs, five years); masters programs two or three years; doctoral programs three years.

In last five decades, China has made significant achievements in higher learning. Through waves of reform and restructuring, higher education in the country has been vitalized. The scale has expanded structure upgraded and quality and efficiency improved, leading to a multilayered, diversified and discipline-inclusive higher education system.

Up to 1999, there were 1,071 common colleges and universities countrywide. These schools offered 2,754,500 seats to those applying for junior college and bachelor programs, 19,900 seats to those applying for doctoral programs and 72,300 seats to masters' program applicants.

In recent years, higher education is experiencing reform. Key moves have been made in the management system and layout restructuring of higher education. In 1999, the number of colleges and universities was 1,942, decreasing by 49 from the previous year. To compensate for this admission expansion of colleges and universities has been

successfully implemented, leading to a significant increase in seats offered. This tendency will continue for the next few years.

Adult Education
It comprises of schooling, anti-illiteracy education and other programs oriented to adult groups.

A Chinese Classroom

China's adult education has evolved rapidly since the Liberation. Up to 1999, there were 871 colleges and universities dedicated to adult education and 800 correspondence-based and evening programs at common colleges. These schools offered 1,157,700 seats to those pursuing junior college and bachelor programs, and granted diplomas to 888,200 people.

Adult 'higher learning institutes' include radio and TV universities, workers' colleges, farmers' colleges, correspondence colleges, evening universities, and colleges giving in-service training to government employees or secondary school teachers. 'Secondary schools' for adult education include vocational secondary schools, middle schools and technical training schools. 'Primary schools' for adult include workers' and farmers' primary schools and literacy classes.

International Communication and Cooperation
Since 1978, when China inaugurated the opening and reform initiative, international communication and cooperation in the education sector has migrated onto a new stage. The system is now cheering the development of study abroad programs, increasing the number of foreigners studying in China, and expanding cross-border academic communication. More and more universities are beginning to provide long and short-term studying programs for foreign students in China.

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Date: 2015-01-02; view: 1357