ChinaBy:Jordan Cotten,Br. Tony,Jingwei Liu

DemographicsReligion: Folk 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%Ethnicity: Han Chinese 91.6%Language: Chinese or Mandarin Population: 1,355,692,576 (largest in world)Government: CommunistEconomy: Socialist Market

Looking to the Future❏Remaining competitive❏Invest in human capital

Challenges:➔not enough jobs➔widening the gap between rich and poor

➔increase in migrant workers➔constantly needs to improve labor force capacity

Implications for Education❏Urgency to revamp education system❏Closing digital and linguistic divide❏Training and keeping local talent

China’s Education System Structure

Primary Schools

Vocational Junior Schools General Junior Secondary Schools

General Senior Secondary Schools

Specialized Secondary Schools

Vocational Senior Schools

Skilled Worker Schools

Regular Higher Ed. (Degree)

Regular Higher Ed. (Sub-Degree)

MasterPh.D.

Education Requirements❏9 years of compulsory school

❏Primary and Junior Secondary school❏Public exams used for selection

❏Junior secondary education exam❏Senior secondary entrance exam❏National college entrance exam

ExpenditurePublic expenditure on education:

3.4% of GDP

International Average: 4.1% GDP

Education Reforms - 1980s➔ simultaneous with application to GATT (WTO)➔ wanting to turn population into human resource➔ emphasis on intellectual knowledge, science and

technology➔ 1985 Reform of China’s educational structure

Two Goals:1) eradication of illiteracy (ages 15 and above)2) avoid emergence of new illiterates (ages 6-15)

a) universalization of basic educationb) Basic Education Law

➔ expanded vocational track to improve quality of labor force

Education Reforms - 1990s➔1993 Scheme for the Reform and Development of Education in China

➔addressing challenges to the 21st century

➔1996 Vocational Education Law◆legal protection for development of vocational

and technical education➔late 90s expansion of higher education

Education Reforms - 2000s➔Action plan for invigorating education for the 21st century

➔special attention to information technology and innovation

➔emphasizing the need for human resource to maintain competitiveness globally

Reforming School and Curricula1990s - China began to pay attention to quality over quantity

Curricula★ subject-based and too many subjects★ subject content outdated/repetitive/difficult★ examination-oriented culture

Reforming School and CurriculaIn response to criticism, instituted two sets of curriculum standards

1) 2001 - basic education

a)18 subjects2) 2003 - general senior

secondary educationa)15 subjects

Both sets of standards share four commonalities:1) goals incorporate

global imperatives2) practical activities and

develop generic skills3) subject-based to

integrated curriculum4) decentralized

education management

Higher Education Reforms1950s - modeled universities after Soviet Union1980s - difficult to maintain universities while transferring to a socialist market economy1990s - large scale realigning of universities to enhance efficiency

Higher Education ReformsImproved efficiency by:❏co-administration of colleges by local governments

❏transfer of administrative power and ownership to lower units of governance

❏universities responsible for hiring teachers, develop courses, research

❏uniting higher education institutes

Expansion of Higher Education➔increased undergraduate and postgraduate student enrollment

➔increased admission quotas for masters and doctoral programs

Contentious Issues

Linguistic and Technological DividesCurriculum Reform and Heavy Study Load

Education of Domestic Migrant Children“Brain Drain” and “Brain Gain”Creating World-Class Universities

Technological DividesBeginning in 2000, a national pursuit of proficiency

in English and IT - with a widening gap between urban and rural areas.

Goal of 90% of schools connected to the Internet by 2010

Not less than 68 hours of IT education in primary and junior secondary education.

Between 70 and 140 hours in secondary education.

Technological DividesIn 2010, public schools in Beijing and Shaanxi:

Urban RuralComputer in schools88% 69%44 minutes or more of computer 100%

78%class per week

Percentage of schools teaching computer class > 44 minutes 88%54%

per week.

Linguistic DivideLate 1970s, English language study replaced

Russian and was taught beginning in junior secondary

2001 - China extended the learning of English to the primary three

Many schools start English in primary oneFocus is on ability to communicateUniversity level English proficiency is stressedPrivate High Schools in U.S. have seen a rise in

Chinese students who are improving their English

Linguistic DivideEducation expenditures favor urban areas

Urban Rural2002 - School Population40% 60%

Expenditures77% 40%Ratio of

Expenditure/Population 1.925vs..67%

or almost 3 times as much was spent on an urban student versus a rural student

Assessment and Student LoadExaminations are the main factor in student

selection for the next level of education - causing heavy/excessive study loads

In 2000, the Ministry of Education issued seven regulations to curve study loads.

There are cultural and economic incentives for students to have heavy study loads

League tables of test results

Education of Domestic Migrant ChildrenIn 2004, there were between 17 and 18 millions

domestic migrant children of school ageDomestic migrant children are not eligible for free

access to public schools Nine years of public schooling is free for local

res.Migrant workers are not local would have to

pay a “borrowing fee” too high for manyPrestigious public schools are not willing to

admit migrant children

Education of Domestic Migrant ChildrenMigrant workers see education as a way to improve

the lives of their childrenIllegal private migrant schools thrive

Are cheaper than public schoolsA means to receive educationDangerous and teacher quality is low

Hard to get into post-compulsory education slots due to domicile registration

Brain Drain and Brain GainBetween 1978 and 2003 only 25% of foreign

educated students returned to ChinaIn 1992, China adopted three principles:

Support Overseas studyEncourage graduates to returnEase restriction on coming and going

Returnees prefer cosmopolitan settingsHigher unemployment rate / compensation

expectation

Creating World-Class UniversitiesInvestment in research infrastructureIncrease in the percentage of professors and

associate professors to 9.7% and 29.8% respectively

Expect professors to engage in research and publish results (China ranked 5th in technology publications in 2002)

Project 211 Project 985

Current Higher Education SituationForming modern higher education system

Formal universityProfessional educationContinuing education

From “Mass” to “Universal”2013, acceptance rate>80%

From “large population” to “big human resource”2010, new employees’ average educated year

above 14.7 years.

Current Higher Education Situation Count.From “big economic country” to “strong economic

country”quantity and qualityfamous brand

From “Made in China” to “Original in China” higher educated laborcreativities

Technology usageteaching resource

Chinese Education Future10 philosophy to show Chinese education future:1. “People oriented”2. “Comprehensive development”3. “Quality education”4. “Innovation education”5. “Subjectivity”6. “Individualization”7. “Open”8. “Diversification”9. “Harmonious education”10.“Lifelong learning”

1.People orientedEmphasizing the nature of the “people”. The teaching process involve the spirit of human. Such as moral education, patriotism education, etc.

2. Comprehensive developmentSociety:

Education is a national education for all citizens, focusing on the overall development of the nation, in order to improve the moral quality, scientific and cultural qualities, knowledge innovation and enhance nation competition.

Single studentEnhance every student’s moral, intellectual,

physical, aesthetic and labor education.

3. Quality educationFocus on the skills and other more important aspects’ education rather than only focus on the exam and test scores.

4. Innovation educationCombine innovation with entrepreneurship education. Mainly use guide, inspire, and advise as teaching method to make students think in different and innovative way.

5. SubjectivityTransfer the main role of the education from teacher to student. The student is the main subject of the education process and students should control their learning.

6. IndividualizationEstablish customized learning platform and environment. Respect the differences and encourage students have their own characteristics.

7. OpenIncluding the education concept, education process and method open to the other countries and accept new aspects.

Teaching resource, contents and values open to the public and can be shared with the whole society.

8. Diversificationeducation need: to fit to diversified need of the opportunities.

schools: diversification of education goals, methods of the management

forms, tools, and measurement

9. Harmonious educationeffective learning environment. This includes the class, teachers, students, interaction, activities and all process in education should establish a balanced, joyful, united environment.

10. Lifelong learningEncourage the whole society keep studying in order to improve the people’s skills and abilities and development of the civilization.

ReferencesLaw, W. (2006). Education reform for national competitiveness in a global age: The experience and struggle of China. In K. Mazurek & M. A. Winzer (Eds), Schooling around the world: Debates, challenges, and practices, (pp. 68-99). Pearson Education, Inc.(n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.html