Chinese Education
Education has been very important in China since ancient times. Parents have high expectations of their children, the children of China spending a long time at school each day, and the children learn important Chinese Values from an early age, amongst other things, especially as they carry on through primary school and up to secondary.
Chinese Children spend about 9 hours at school a day, Monday to Friday, as well as studying after school has finished for the day. They start at primary school at the age of 6 (after attending preschool for 3 years) and enter secondary school at the age of 12. They then finish secondary school at the age of 17, continuing on at junior college, college or university, till 26 or older. Chinese parents tend to push their children, and have high expectations of them. Also, the government of China assists Chinese children that need help with their education, including scholarships and student loans. This may be why a number of Chinese children are quite intelligent. Before 1949 though, 80% of the Chinese population were illiterate. 1949 was when the People’s Republic of China was founded. The People’s Republic of China made a great difference to children’s education in China. Now, Chinese youth (15-24) have a 99% literacy rate. I think that the People’s Republic of China helped the education in schools a lot.
The people of China believe in teaching important Chinese values, such as the values of Truth, Beauty, and Kindness, to children when they are of an early age. Elementary begins at 7:30 with a flag-raising ceremony, and a lecture from the principal (schools in China are quite strict). They study mathematics, reading, writing, and propaganda at school, and often write on thin, brittle paper that feels like onion skin and glows if held up to the light. During ‘recess’ (as that is what they call it), the children calisthenics and relaxation exercises that is when they press two finger on their eyes, nose or cheeks. Middle class children fill the hours after school with homework, music lessons, and other such things. As was said previously, parents pushed their children and had high expectations, so the Chinese children usually did their homework in front of their parents or caregivers. I think that though this may sound strict, it does help the parents to know that their children are doing their homework.
In conclusion, education in China is quite strict, but the results of that sort of education are good, as Chinese people are now quite intelligent (unlike in 1949). The Chinese children learn very useful things at school, and know the importance of Truth and Kindness, as well as Beauty. They spend a long time at school, with their parents having high expectations of them. Therefore, children in China receive a high-quality education, and learn a lot in school.
By Jessica Watson
Bibliography
· Education in China
· School life in China
· 25 surprising facts about china’s education system
