The education system in China: description, development

China is a modern promising country, which in recent years has taken a leading position not only in the world market, but also in the sphere of culture and science. From our article you will learn how the system of education in China evolved from antiquity to the present day. Also we will tell about the most important universities of the country and about how foreigners can enter into them.

Education in ancient China

Since ancient times, the Chinese have been reverent to everything connected with knowledge and study. Teachers, scientists, philosophers and poets were respected people, often held high positions in the state system. Initial knowledge children received in the family - they were taught to respect the elders and follow the norms of behavior in society. In well-to-do families, the kids were taught counting and writing from the age of three. From the age of six, the boys went to school, where they learned the art of gun ownership, horse riding, music and writing hieroglyphics. In large cities, students could go through two levels of education - the primary and the higher. Usually the children of the nobility and well-to-do townspeople studied here, since the cost of the classes was quite high. In rural schools, students sat out for books all day, did not know the holidays and fun games. Not infrequent were corporal punishment - instead of flowers, the children carried a bamboo stick to the teacher, though in a beautiful package. However, the knowledge they received within the walls of the school was rather scarce. Pupils were taught that China is the whole world and the children vaguely imagined what is happening in neighboring countries. It should be noted that the girls were ordered to go to school, as they were prepared for the role of the wife and mother of the family. But in noble families, the girls learned to read and write, dance, play musical instruments and even master certain types of weapons. With the popularization of the teachings of Confucius, the history of education in China has moved to a new level. For the first time students began to be treated with respect, taught to ask questions and find answers to them. The new approach contributed to fostering respect for the academic sciences, and contributed to the fact that education has become an integral part of public policy.

The education system in China

Today, the government of this great country does everything possible for citizens to learn. This despite the fact that in the middle of the last century 80% of the population was illiterate. Thanks to state programs throughout the country, schools, technical colleges and higher education establishments are actively opening. However, the problem persists in rural areas, where people still live in accordance with ancient traditions. The main feature of education in China is that training at all levels can be obtained free of charge. The system itself is very similar to the Russian one. That is, from the age of three, the kids go to kindergarten, from six years to school, and after graduation to the institute or vocational school. Let's consider all steps in more detail.

Pre-school education in China

As you know, most families in this country have one child each. That's why parents are happy that kids can be brought up in a children's team. Kindergartens in China are divided into public and private. In the first, much attention is paid to the preparation for school, and secondly to the development of creative abilities. Extra activities such as dancing and music are usually paid separately. Many of the knowledge that children receive in kindergartens can be applied in practice. So, for example, they learn to plant plants and take care of them. Together with the teacher they prepare food and learn to repair clothes. An original approach to education we can see in the network of private kindergartens "Junin". A whole team of teachers led by chairman Wang Hunin developed a single curriculum for children.

School in China

Before entering the first class, children undergo a series of tests, and then get involved in serious work. They do not indulge even the smallest students, and parents often have to hire tutors. School education in China is built in such a way that children constantly have to compete with each other for the title of the best. Therefore, it is not surprising that the loads in all classes are simply huge. At the end of the seventh grade, all students take an exam that will determine whether the child is ready for higher education. If not, then the road to further education, and subsequently to prestigious work, will be closed to him. Before entering the university, students pass a single state examination, which is conducted throughout the country at the same time (Incidentally, this idea was borrowed and successfully implemented in Russia). Every year, more and more Chinese people successfully pass exams in prestigious universities around the world. They are accepted with pleasure, since these students are very diligent, collected and take their studies very seriously.

Like other educational institutions in China, schools are not only public, but also private. Foreigners can enter any of them by passing the necessary examinations. As a rule, it is much easier to enter a private school , and instruction is often conducted in two languages (one of them is English). There is a school in China, where they teach in Russian and Chinese, and it is located in the city of Inin.

Secondary education

As in Russia, there are professional schools that train students of the chosen profession. The main directions of secondary education in China are agriculture, medicine, law, pharmaceuticals and so on. For three or four years young people get a profession and can start working. Foreigners who have entered such educational institutions learn the language for the first year and spend the rest of the time studying.

Higher education

There are a lot of state universities in the country that accept students on the results of school examinations. Training here is paid, but the prices are relatively low. However, rural residents often even pay such a high fee, and they are forced to take out loans for training. If a young specialist agrees to return to the remote area after graduating from the university, then he will not have to return money. If he is ambitious and plans to start his business in the city, then the debt will have to be repaid in full. Higher education in China can be obtained by any foreign student who passed the language test. And he can choose the program in English, Chinese learn in parallel. To facilitate the adaptation of these students, they often open preparatory language training courses. After a year or two of intensive preparation, the student can pass to training in the specialty.

Universities

Consider the most popular and prestigious universities in the country:

• Peking University is the oldest educational institution in the country located in the Haidan District, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Amazing gardens, which used to belong to the imperial dynasty, make an indelible impression on tourists. The campus itself consists of academic buildings, dormitories, cafes, restaurants, shops and leisure centers. The local library is the largest in Asia.
• Fudan University is one of the oldest in the country. Known for being the first to replace the semester system with "levels" and proved that this approach is most effective. In addition, the teachers of this university set a goal to reveal the potential of students to direct young talents to serve their country.
• Tsinghua is one of the best technical universities in China, which is also one of the top hundred universities in the world. Among his students there are many famous scientists, politicians and public figures.

Conclusion

As you could see, the path of education in China is very similar to that of students in Russia. We hope that you will find useful the information we collected if you decided to become a student of one of the educational institutions of the country.