What's the education system like in China?

China.org.cn

10 Aug 201702:05

Summary

TLDRThe Chinese education system mandates 9 years of compulsory schooling for children over 6, including primary and junior middle school. Following this, students face the pivotal senior high school entrance exam, with 87% proceeding to senior secondary education. They specialize in either humanities or sciences, preparing for the critical college entrance exam, the GAA, which dictates university admission. China's historic reforms introduce a 3+3 model, emphasizing higher-level Chinese and traditional culture, aiming for comprehensive personal development.

Takeaways

🏫 In China, children over 6 years old are eligible to start primary school, which is the beginning of their formal education.
📚 After primary school, students spend 3 years in junior middle school, completing a total of 9 years of what is known as National Compulsory Education.
🆓 National Compulsory Education in China is free of charge for all school-age children, ensuring access to basic education for everyone.
📝 The first significant exam in a Chinese student's life is the senior high school entrance examination, which is based on their academic performance and personal preferences.
🎓 Approximately 87% of students proceed to senior secondary education, with 57% attending regular senior secondary schools and 43% going to secondary vocational schools.
🔬 Students in regular senior secondary schools choose between a focus on social sciences or natural sciences, which determines their subjects for the college entrance examination.
📈 The college entrance examination, known as GAA, is scored out of 750 points and is a pivotal moment in a student's academic career.
🌐 English is the most popular foreign language among the six that can be chosen for the examination, highlighting its importance in education.
🏛 The results of the GAA, along with the university's enrollment marks, decide which university a student can enter, making it a high-stakes exam.
📈 The recent historic education system reform in China introduces a 3+3 model for the GAA, emphasizing higher level requirements, especially in Chinese language and traditional culture.
🌟 The reform aims at comprehensive personal development and an education oriented towards cultivating well-rounded individuals.

Q & A

What is the minimum age for children to start primary school in China?
-Children in China are allowed to enter primary school at the age of 6 or over.
How long is the duration of primary and junior middle school education combined in China?
-The combined duration of primary and junior middle school education in China is 9 years.
What is the term used for the 9-year education system in China?
-The 9-year education system is referred to as 'National Compulsory Education' in China.
What does the National Compulsory Education require for all school-age children in China?
-National Compulsory Education requires that all school-age children be educated free of charge.
What is the first important lifetime test that Chinese students take after compulsory education?
-After compulsory education, Chinese students take the senior high school entrance examination, which is their first important lifetime test.
What percentage of students enter senior secondary education based on the transcript?
-According to the transcript, 87% of students step into senior secondary education.
How many students choose regular senior secondary schools over secondary vocational schools?
-57% of students choose regular senior secondary schools, while 43% enter secondary vocational schools.
What are the two main class focuses in regular schools for students in most provinces of China?
-In most provinces, students in regular schools are divided into classes focused on social sciences or natural sciences.
What is the total point of the college entrance examination (GAA) in China?
-The total point of the college entrance examination (GAA) in China is 750.
What is the significance of the GAA for Chinese students in relation to their university admission?
-The GAA is greatly significant for Chinese students as it determines the university they can enter based on their final scores and the enrollment mark of the university.
How has the historic education system reform in China affected the GAA model?
-The historic education system reform in China has led to the adoption of a 3+3 model for the GAA, emphasizing higher level Chinese and traditional Chinese culture.
What does the 3+3 model in the GAA tend to select for comprehensive personal development?
-The 3+3 model in the GAA tends to select exact mines on the basis of majors, aiming for comprehensive personal development.

Outlines

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📚 Chinese Education System Overview

The Chinese education system is structured with primary school accessible to children over 6 years old, followed by a 3-year junior middle school, totaling a 9-year compulsory education period. This is known as National Compulsory Education, which is free of charge. After this, students face their first significant exam, the senior high school entrance examination, which determines their path into senior secondary education. Approximately 87% of students proceed to this level, with 57% attending regular senior secondary schools for academic knowledge and 43% entering vocational schools for skill-based training. In regular schools, students are divided into classes focused on either social sciences or natural sciences, depending on their interests and future exam requirements. The college entrance examination, known as the GAA, is the second pivotal exam, with a total score of 750 and options for six foreign languages, with English being the most popular. The results of the GAA, along with university enrollment marks, determine the university students can enter. The script also mentions a historic reform in the education system, introducing a 3+3 model for the GAA, emphasizing higher-level Chinese language skills and traditional Chinese culture, aiming for comprehensive personal development.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Primary School

Primary school is the first stage of formal education in China, where children over 6 years old are allowed to enter. It is a foundational part of the Chinese education system and is integral to the 'National compulsory education' mentioned in the script. The term is used to describe the beginning of a child's formal learning journey, which is a key aspect of the video's theme on the Chinese education system.

💡Junior Middle School

Junior middle school is the next educational stage after primary school in China, where students spend three years. It is part of the 9-year compulsory education period. The term is significant in the script as it represents a continuation of the compulsory education that lays the groundwork for students' future academic and professional paths.

💡National Compulsory Education

National compulsory education refers to the 9-year education period in China that includes both primary school and junior middle school. It is a mandatory educational policy that requires all school-age children to be educated free of charge. The script emphasizes this as a fundamental aspect of the Chinese education system, highlighting its role in ensuring universal access to basic education.

💡Senior High School Entrance Examination

The Senior High School Entrance Examination is the first critical test in a Chinese student's life after completing compulsory education. The script mentions it as a pivotal moment that determines the educational trajectory of students based on their performance and personal choices. It is a key concept in the video as it illustrates the competitive nature of the Chinese education system.

💡Senior Secondary Education

Senior secondary education is the stage following junior middle school, where students further their studies for another three years. The script indicates that 87% of students enter this stage, with a division into regular senior secondary schools and secondary vocational schools. This term is central to the video's narrative as it outlines the options available to students post-compulsory education.

💡Secondary Vocational Schools

Secondary vocational schools are institutions where students can receive specialized training for employment after completing their compulsory education. The script states that 43% of students enter these schools to gain practical skills. This keyword is important as it represents an alternative educational path focused on vocational training within the Chinese education system.

💡College Entrance Examination (GAA)

The College Entrance Examination, referred to as GAA in the script, is the second important exam in a Chinese student's life. It determines the university and major they can enter based on their scores. The script highlights its significance as the exam that greatly influences a student's future, thus it is a central theme in the video's discussion on the Chinese education system.

💡3+3 Model

The 3+3 model is a recent reform in the Chinese education system mentioned in the script. It refers to the structure of the GAA, where students are tested on three core subjects plus three elective subjects. This model aims to provide a more comprehensive and balanced assessment of students' abilities, which is a key point in the script's discussion on educational reforms.

💡Comprehensive Personal Development

Comprehensive personal development is an educational philosophy emphasized in the script, which aims to cultivate well-rounded individuals. It is related to the 3+3 model and the overall goal of the Chinese education system to move towards a more holistic approach to education. This concept is used in the script to illustrate the direction of recent educational reforms.

💡Exact Sciences

Exact sciences, in the context of the script, refer to the subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology that students can choose to focus on for their GAA. The term is used to contrast with the social sciences track and to show the specialized academic paths available to students in senior secondary education.

💡Traditional Chinese Culture

Traditional Chinese culture is highlighted in the script as an important aspect of the 3+3 model, emphasizing the inclusion of Chinese cultural education in the curriculum. This keyword reflects the script's message on the importance of preserving cultural heritage within the modern Chinese education system.

Highlights

Chinese children over 6 years old can enter primary school.

After 6 years in primary school, students spend 3 years in junior middle school.

The 9-year education is known as National Compulsory Education.

National Compulsory Education is free of charge for all school-age children.

Chinese students face their first important test, the senior high school entrance examination.

87% of students proceed to senior secondary education.

57% of students attend regular senior secondary schools for academic knowledge.

43% of students enter secondary vocational schools for employment skills.

In most provinces, students are divided into classes focused on social sciences or natural sciences.

The choice between social and natural sciences determines their college entrance examination subjects.

The college entrance examination (GAA) is the second important exam with a total score of 750.

Six foreign languages can be chosen for the examination, with English being the most popular.

University admission depends on final scores and the enrollment mark of the university.

High school students in China work hard under significant pressure to prepare for the GAA.

China has implemented historic education system reforms with a 3+3 model for GAA.

All subjects require higher level Chinese, especially traditional Chinese culture.

The new model emphasizes comprehensive personal development and oriented education.

GAA tends to select exact sciences on the basis of majors.