The Evolution of Education in China
China has a long history of education, which began with the very birth of the Chinese civilization. In ancient China, educational institutions were often set up by noble nobility for the education for their own children. Imperial examinations were advocated in the Warring States Period (475 BC—221 BC) and established in the Tang Dynasty (618—907), which lasted for over 1000 years and was terminated in 1905.
Current educational system was first initiated in 1949 when education was brought under the national control.
Education in China is a state-run system of public education governed and supervised by the Ministry of Education. All children must attend school for at least nine years, which is known as the nine-year compulsory education funded by the government. Before compulsory education kids start preschool education. Compulsory education includes six years of primary education which starts at the age of 6 or 7 for most children and three years of junior high school education between the ages of 12 and 15.
China’s educational system has experienced some essential changes. Many universities expanded or merged with others to construct more comprehensive educational institutions in addition to specialized technical training. Furthermore, private capitals are allowed to invest in the field of education again. Since then on private schools at various levels emerged like mushrooms after rain. Some of them have developed smoothly and quickly to become highly competitive schools or universities in China to have been attracting an increasing number of students.
Rich Language and Culture Activities at Different Educational Levels
In various schools at different levels, kids, pupils and students enjoy varieties of on-campus and off-campus activities in their spare time.
In kindergartens, there are five main areas of teaching activities: health, language, art, society and science. Most of them are in the form of game activities.
Pupils in primary schools and students in high school have different life styles in China. More of them focus most of their time and energy on their courses and homework since they will be facing such tough examinations as Zhongkao and Gaokao. Nevertheless pupils have a lot of favorite activities of their own like football, basketball, chorus, etc. In particular their teachers often organize different games for pupils both inside and outside class.
High school students also have a tough life both in school and at home for the reason of Gaokao. All students are encouraged to enter a high quality university on their graduation from high school. Everyday they have to finish large numbers of exercises and large amount of homework in order to complete the assignments from teachers of various subjects. Still they make use of their spare time to organize activities to refresh themselves.
In a striking contrast, university students have the opportunity to enjoy a richer life with more interesting and meaningful activities in their spare time, including entertainment, participation in clubs, sports, communication on WeChat, broad reading, and part-time jobs on campus, all of which fall into three major categories—internet-based activity, sports and culture activity and learning and communication activity.
More and more university students choose to participate in technological innovation activity such as mechanical design and engineering innovations. Since Premier Li Keqiang first put forward the new concept of “two engines” at the Davos in 2014, mass entrepreneurship and innovation have been becoming China’s new economic drivers. An increasing number of college students have involved themselves in creating business startups and innovative firms. On campus places are offered to students to breed enterprises, which will be brought to the market when they are ready.
With the increase of international students on campus, colorful culture activities have been frequently sponsored in many universities or on a provincial scale or even a national scale. International students are organized to participate in many of these activities. Moreover international students from different countries are also encouraged to co-organize activities for cultural transmission and communication. Currently they have opportunities to enjoy very interesting campus life besides their daily study.
