Education in China

Since 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, Chinese government has always been placing the education on its higher agenda. Through uninterrupted efforts in the past five decades, China has made significant progress in its education sector. The 9-year compulsory education is being implemented nationwide in stages in a planned way; primary schooling has been prevailed in areas concentrating 91% of Chinese population; higher education, occupational and polytechnic education, diversified adult education and ethical education have been developed rapidly.
China has set up an education system with government as the major investor and social partners as co-investors. In current stage, local government is playing a key role in compulsory education, while central and provincial government are dominant in higher education. Ministry of Education is the supreme education administration body in China, which is responsible for carrying out related laws, regulations, guidelines and policies of the central government; planning development of education sector; integrating and coordinating educational initiatives and programs nationwide; maneuvering and guiding education reform countrywide. In recent years, non-government investment has been moving into education sector, providing more seats for more applicants.

With regard to education budget, financial allocation is still the major source, while multiple fund channels have been opened up. At present, fund needed by schools directly controlled by the central government comes from the central financial pool; schools controlled by local governments are supported by local finance; schools sponsored by township and villageship governments and by public institutions are mainly financed by the sponsor institutions and subsidized by local governments; funds needed by schools operated by social partners and celebrities are raised by the sponsors themselves (including collecting tuition from students and soliciting contributions). In addition to these sources, the central government is advocating work-study programs, aiming at improving the education conditions through premium services.


● Education System


China's education system is composed of 4 components, i.e. basic education, occupational/polytechnic education, common higher education and adult education.

　 Basic Education

Chinese government has always been listing basic education as one of its top priorities. Since 1986, primary schooling has been prevailed in most areas in China, while junior middle schooling is being popularized in large cities and economically developed areas. Up to 1999, there were 582,300 primary schools countrywide with an enrollment of 135.5496 million. Primary schooling prevailed in areas concentrating 91% of the total population Moderate development was also witnessed in junior middle schooling countrywide. By 1999, there were 64,400 common junior middle schools nationwide with admission of 21.8344 million and enrollment of 58.1165 million and 14,100 common high schools nationwide with admission of 3,963,200 and enrollment of 10.4971 million. In 1999, there were 1,520 special schools opened for deaf-mutes and mentally disabled children, with an enrollment of 371,600. More than half of the handicapped children had access to basic education. There were 181,110 kindergartens nationwide with an enrollment of 23.2626 million.

　 Medium-level Occupational and Polytechnic Education

Mainly composed of medium-level professional schools, polytechnic schools, occupational middle schools as well as short-term occupational and technical training programs of various forms.

Up to 1997, there were 33,464 occupational and polytechnic schools nationwide with an enrollment of 18.6976 million.

　 Common Higher Education

Common higher education comprises of junior college, bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs. Junior college program usually last 2~3 years; bachelor program 4 years (medical and some engineering and technical programs, 5 years); master program 2~3 years; doctoral program 3 years.

In last five decades since 1949, China has made significant achievements in higher education. Through waves of reform and restructuring, higher education in the country has been vitalized, scale expanded, structure upgraded, quality and efficiency improved, leading to a multilayered, diversified and discipline-inclusive higher education system.

Up to 1999, there were 1,071 common colleges and universities countrywide offering 2,754,500 seats to those applying for junior college and bachelor programs, 19,900 seats to those applying for doctoral programs and 72,300 seats to master program applicants, and accommodating 54,000 doctoral candidates and 179,500 master candidates.

In recent years, higher education is experiencing reform. Key moves have been made in management system reform and layout restructuring of higher education. In 1999, number of colleges and universities is 1,942, decreasing by 49 than previous year, whereas admission expansion of colleges and universities has successfully been implemented, leading to significant increase of seats offered. The tendency will continue in the next few years.

　 Adult Education

Adult education comprises of schooling education, anti-illiteracy education and other programs oriented to adult groups.

China's adult education has evolved rapidly since the Liberation. Up to 1999, there were 871 colleges and universities destined to adult education and some 800 correspondence-based and evening adult education programs launched by common colleges, offering 1,157,700 seats to those pursuing junior college and bachelor programs, and granting diploma to 888,200 people.


Adult higher learning institutes include radio and TV universities, workers' colleges, farmers' colleges, correspondence colleges, evening universities, and colleges giving in-service training to government employees or secondary school teachers. Secondary schools for adult education include vocational secondary schools, middle schools and technical training schools. Primary schools for adult education include workers' primary schools, farmers' primary schools and literacy classes.


● International Communication and Cooperation


Since 1978 when China inaugurated the opening and reform initiative, international communication and cooperation in the education sector has migrated onto a new stage cheering healthy development of abroad studying, increasing number of foreigners studying in China, and expanding cross-border academic communication. More and more universities begin to provide long-term or short-term studying programs for foreign students in China.