Studying In China

Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing To rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their know-edge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Confucius

Respect for teachers and valuing the importance of education is one of the most important features of Chinese culture. As long as 2,000 years ago, Confucius had formed a private school for education. In the Sui Dynasty, in order to encourage learning and select qualified candidates for public service, a National Examination known as keju (科举) was instituted. Since then, all through the feudalist dynasties, zhongju (中举), which means passing the National Examination and being selected to be an official, became a way of get-ting both a reputation and fortune for ordinary people. Therefore, both rich and poor sought opportunities for education to prepare for the National Examination. Even so, education was still the privilege of a very few rich people. Most ordinary people couldn't afford the high cost of education.

In 1949, known as the birth of New China, a policy of nationalizing schools of all kinds was put forward. Schools began to be opened to the public. However, due to the backward economic situation, most people could only complete education at primary or even lower level. Only a small number of people could enter university for education. Worse still, during the "Cultural Revolution", education, and particularly higher education, suffered a tremendous setback. Most schools were closed and the education system was nearly shut down. It was only after the "Cultural Revolution", ironically, that the value of education was recognized again. Among the notable official efforts to improve the education system was a 1984 decision to formulate major laws on the educational system and a 1985 plan to reform the education system. In un- veiling the education reform plan in 1985, the government called for nine years of compulsory education. In the era of Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese government gave primacy to education ahead of the development of other items and formulated the strategic policy of "developing the nation through science and education". Under its guidance, the government constantly deepens the reform of education system. The aim is to enhance and universalize elementary and junior middle-school education, to increase the number of schools and qualified teachers; and to develop vocational and technical education. A uniform standard for curricula, textbooks, examinations, and teacher qualifications was established and considerable autonomy and variations in the autonomous regions, provinces, and special municipalities was allowed. Policies encouraging learning from abroad for advanced training were also put into practice.

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