Understand China’s education system
Counted as the world’s second largest economy, China provides ample opportunities for learning and enrichment of knowledge, attracting students from across the world. With its world-class colleges and universities, the educational system of China has shaped some of the world’s brilliant minds across disciplines.
Several world leaders in business, martial arts, philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy have studied in China. More than a thousand years ago, students from East Asia and Arab countries used to visit China for higher studies. Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China on February 2012 announced that a total of 292,611 international students were studying in China in 2011. The education in China is known as the world’s largest education system which accounts for about 4% of total GDP. The Chinese government passed a mandatory education law in 1986 under which nine years of education was made compulsory for all Chinese children. The Ministry of Education in China is seeing an upward trend in the number of international students in China increasing significantly over the past few years.
Structure of education system in China:
Education System of China
- Compulsory education: In1986, a nine year compulsory education system came into effect, of which six years are for elementary education and three years for junior high school. Technical arts education is added in the curriculum of junior high school students to give them more opportunities. It is expected that in 2014, compulsory education will be extended to 12 years.
- Senior high school and vocational education: This group comprises of three years of schooling where senior high school includes:
- Ordinary senior high schools
- Comprehensive senior high schools
- Magnet senior high schools
- Experimental senior high schools
Whereas, vocational education implies a special curriculum in line with the needs of students. It includes general high school courses, practical classes, industry-related subjects, and cooperative education programs.
- Junior college education: As per the admission requirements of students, vocational education school can be classified into 5 year junior colleges and 2 year junior colleges. 5 year junior colleges take graduates of junior high schools and 2-year junior colleges take graduates of vocational high schools.
- Teacher education programs: All those teachers who teach in kindergarten, primary school, junior high school, and senior high school are trained in these types of teachers colleges or universities. Such institutions are in charge for imparting in-service training and guidance for local education practitioners.
- University/college and graduate school education:
- The maximum time period assigned for university education is 4 years (including universities, colleges, universities of technology, and technical colleges)
- 1-2 years for the post-bachelor second specialty program
- 2 years for the associate degree which is being offered by technical colleges
- Internships can extend by one-half to 2 years depending on the needs of the subject
- 1-4 years for master’s degree
- 2-7 years time period is assigned for doctoral degree
- Special education: Special education institutions are specifically designed for students who have some sort of mental or physical disabilities. Such institutions offer education at the levels of kindergarten, primary school (6 years), junior high school (3 years), and senior or vocational high school (3 years). Furthermore, universities also possess resource rooms to guide and support students with disabilities.
- Supplementary and continuing education: This class provides extensive and comprehensive learning opportunities for the general public. Furthermore, it can be divided into:
- General supplementary education
- Continuing education
- Short-term supplementary education
Therefore, it can be concluded that one has to study for around 22 years, which include 2 years of pre-school education, 6 years of primary education, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of senior high school, 4 to 7 years of college or university, 1 to 4 years for a master’s degree and 2 to 7 years for a doctoral degree.
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