When does the school year start in China? School education in China and interesting facts about it

Chinese secondary education is unique in that, in addition to traditional ones, they try to instill moral principles in children and help them unleash their creative potential.

In China, all children aged 6 must go to school. First, they study for six years in primary school, then another three years in junior high school. This is compulsory education for everyone. After graduating from a first-level secondary school, you can enter a higher-level secondary school, where you study for three years. True, for this you need to pass entrance exams.

Public schools in China cater to Chinese children, but some are allowed to accept foreign students as well.

In this case, tuition will be paid, about 5 thousand dollars per semester. Training is conducted in Chinese, so for admission you need to pass an exam in Chinese, English and mathematics.

In addition, foreign students will first have to study for a year in a preparatory program. It will cost, on average, 28 thousand yuan ($4,500) per semester. The cost of a semester of schooling after enrollment is the same.

Typically, Chinese schools with international branches for foreigners are located in major cities, especially Beijing and Shanghai. Mostly children of employees of international companies study there.

Among the public schools in China that accept foreigners are Beijing First of October Middle School, People's University of China Middle School, Beijing No. 4 Middle School, East China Normal University No. 2 Middle School (Shanghai), Fudan University Middle School in Shanghai and Shanghai Jiaotong University Secondary School.

Private schools

There are also private schools in China, and they are more popular among foreigners.

One of the best is the boarding school Beijing New Talent Academy. Children are accepted here from the age of 18 months (there is a kindergarten at the school) to 18 years. You can study in Chinese together with Chinese children or in the existing Cambridge International Center in English according to the British educational program. To enter the school you need to pass exams in Chinese, English and mathematics. If a child enters the Cambridge International Centre, then he must also pass mathematics in accordance with the requirements of the British program. Children who study in English still learn Chinese language and culture. The cost of training at the Beijing New Talent Academy is 76 thousand yuan per year for studying in Chinese ($12 thousand) and 120 thousand yuan for an English-language program ($20 thousand).

If the American system is closer than the British one, you can choose Saint Paul American School in Beijing. Education there is conducted according to the American educational program with compulsory study of the Chinese language and culture.

In general, Chinese public and private schools that accept foreigners are aimed at children whose parents live in the country, although many schools offer boarding. Most students in international programs in Chinese schools are children of expats. Almost all schools require that a foreign child studying in a Chinese school have an official guardian in the country (this can be a parent) - a Chinese citizen or a person permanently residing in China and holding a residence permit. The guardian is responsible for the student and is the point of contact in case problems arise.

The completion of the Cultural Revolution in China was marked by a change in the education system. It was reoriented taking into account the modernization of the economy in the future. 40 years have passed since that moment. The results are amazing, and the number of foreign students wishing to study in China is increasing every year.

Chinese early childhood education system

The system of educating children before they enter school is organized in China on the basis of the principles laid down by the education reform of 1985. In particular, according to the plans of this reform, preschool institutions were supposed to provide:

• state enterprises,
• production teams,
• municipal authorities,
• communities and social groups.

The government has announced that sponsorship of preschool education depends on both private organizations and is part of the social services of various government organizations. The 1985 reform provided for the introduction of paid preschool education, as well as strengthening the training of educators.

Chinese kindergartens

Chinese children usually start attending kindergarten at the age of 3. The final age of preschool education is 6 years. The three-year period of kindergarten is usually divided into three stages. The first stage is the initial group (Xiaoban). The second stage is the middle group (Zhongban). The third stage is the senior group (Daban). Each group is given 1 year to complete.

The Chinese kindergarten looks like a unique architectural object

Most Chinese kindergartens provide full-time child care. Children are provided with three meals a day and comfortable living conditions. The majority of educators are trained as primary school teachers. Therefore, in Chinese preschool institutions the quality of education is at a high level. Children not only play and relax, but also develop intellectually, learn to dance, sing, draw, and do simple work.

Primary Chinese school

Children who have reached the age of six are traditionally sent to primary school. However, in some rural areas of China, children begin to learn to read and write at age 7. Primary education is compulsory for all citizens of the country. The period of study in primary school lasts 6 years.

Most institutions teach lessons in Chinese. True, there are also schools where representatives of national minorities study. If national minorities predominate in such a school, the Chinese language fades into the background, giving way to the language of the national minority.

The standard academic year is two semesters. Starts in September and ends in July. Classes take place five days a week. The compulsory subjects of the Chinese primary school course are:

• Chinese,
• mathematics,
• social science,
• natural history,
• physical training,
• ideology and morality,
• music,
• drawing,
• work.

The study of foreign languages ​​at the primary school stage is mainly organized on an optional basis. Completion of primary school occurs at the age of 12–13 years. Graduates before 1990 took the final exam, as a rule, in two subjects - Chinese language and mathematics. The exam is now cancelled. After primary school, children enter the first level of secondary school.

Education in China has a multi-stage structure

Secondary education in China (first level)

China's secondary education system is conventionally represented by two levels - lower (first) and upper (second). The lower level is designed for three years of study from 12 to 15 years old and is actually the final stage of compulsory education. Parents of students are given three options for choosing a specific school:

• using computer sampling,
• independently, taking into account all wishes,
• with reference to place of residence.

Computer sampling is a random assignment of schools. The institutions selected in this way provide only standard educational conditions. Independent choice allows you to find a school with good infrastructure and services that meet the needs of the student’s parents. However, in this case, education costs will increase due to additional services. Choosing a school near your place of residence reduces costs by saving on transportation, but does not always guarantee the desired quality of education.

During the 3 years of lower secondary school, Chinese students study at least 13 core subjects:

1. Chinese.
2. Mathematics.
3. English language.
4. Physics.
5. Chemistry.
6. History.
7. Political science.
8. Geography.
9. Biology.
10. Computer science.
11. Music.
12. Drawing.
13. Physical education.

At the end of the course, you must score a total of at least 60 assessment points in all subjects. These are the conditions for admission to the final exams.. Students who fail to score the arithmetic average of 60 points are retained for the second year. Typically, the following subjects are assigned to the exam:

• Chinese,
• mathematics,
• chemistry,
• physics,
• foreign language,
• political science.

Successfully passing the exam and, as a result, receiving a certificate completes the cycle of the compulsory Chinese education program. Next, the road opens to additional secondary education - the upper level of secondary school.

Secondary education in China (second level): student reviews

China's upper secondary school level is a further improvement of compulsory education. Education here begins at the age of 15 and continues until the age of 18–19. Applicants are offered a choice of two types of education - academic or vocational. Tuition is paid. The average cost of studying per year is 4-6 thousand yuan.

Video about living and studying in China

The majority of students choose a vocational and technical direction. This option ultimately gives you a better chance of finding a job after completing your studies. It should be noted that the upper level high school is highly popular among the Chinese population. The interest is quite understandable: it is easier for graduates of such schools to enter colleges and universities, plus there is the opportunity to acquire a labor specialty.

Secondary level secondary school curriculum:

• Chinese,
• English (or optionally Russian, Japanese),
• physics,
• chemistry,
• biology,
• geography,
• story,
• ethics and morals,
• information Technology,
• healthcare,
• physical Culture and sport.

Top-level high schools in China are overcrowded. Therefore, despite the two days off established by the government (Saturday, Sunday), many institutions work according to their own schedule. Often additional lessons are held in the early morning and late evening, as well as on weekends.

...My daughter is a citizen of the Russian Federation and has been living in China since she was 2 years old. This year he graduates from the 12th grade of secondary school. There were no problems with documents when enrolling in school, but now a Chinese ID number is required to pass final exams and enter a university...

http://polusharie.com/index.php?topic=3614.msg1452300#msg1452300

…1) You need to get a diploma from the school you graduate from. 2) Prove your foreign citizenship (not only by having a foreign passport, but also by the fact that the child lived in the Russian Federation for up to 2 years. 3) Submit documents to a Chinese university as a foreigner (HSK required)…

http://polusharie.com/index.php?topic=3614.msg1452820#msg1452820

Special education

Upper secondary schools are essentially special education institutions. Most of the graduates of such educational institutions are well-trained workers.

At the same time, this same level of education is a launching pad for continuing studies within higher educational programs. Thus, the Chinese Ministry of Education has opened up access to NCEE (American National Council on Economic Education) programs for high school graduates and the opportunity to enroll in any Chinese university.

China's special education category is complemented by higher schools for adults whose age is above 35–40 years, as well as distance learning schools. This also includes educational institutions for underdeveloped children and those who have physiological defects (visual impairment, hearing impairment, etc.).

Higher education system

Today in China there are about 2.5 thousand institutions of higher education, where more than 20 million students study, including foreigners. Traditionally, higher education institutions accept applicants aged 18 and older. In this case, the applicant must have completed vocational, technical, academic education or completed a course of preparation for higher education.

The Chinese higher education system is very similar to the Russian model

Similar to other higher education systems in the world, Chinese universities prepare bachelors, masters, and doctors of science. The bachelor's educational program takes 4 years of study. A master's degree requires another 3 years of study. Approximately the same period - 3 years - is required to acquire a doctorate degree.

The Chinese higher education system consists of a number of institutions (universities and colleges) of different types:

• general and technical,
• specialized,
• professional,
• military,
• medical.

The entrance exam system in Chinese universities is very strict.. This factor allowed the Chinese to qualitatively filter the flow of applicants and enroll well-prepared students. Competition among applicants to higher education institutions in China is very high.

However, there are some relaxations for foreign students. The Chinese government has developed a special “Education Plan in China”, according to which the authorities have been given the task of attracting more than 500 thousand foreign students by the end of 2020. Each new academic year this plan is successfully implemented.

The academic year for the higher education system is divided into two semesters. The first semester begins in early September and lasts 20 weeks. The second semester begins in mid-February and also lasts 20 weeks. For the entire period of study, not counting summer and winter holidays, students are given 4 days off. One day to celebrate the New Year and three days to celebrate the National Day.

...To enter any Chinese university, you need to pass the HSK Chinese language test. Then only for a profession. Studying there is difficult and not cheap. First of all, you need to understand why you need a Chinese education...

fyfcnfcbz

https://forum.sakh.com/?sub=1045189&post=29421394#29421394

Cost of studying in China

The total cost of studying at higher institutions in China should be divided into the registration fee and the tuition fee itself. Depending on the type and prestige of the establishment, both amounts may be different. In most cases, the registration fee ranges from $90-200, and the annual tuition fee ranges from $3300-9000.

Naturally, living expenses must be added to these amounts. For students, the cost of living in cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou - will be approximately $700–750 per month. For other localities in China, the cost of living varies between $250–550 per month.

Accommodation for foreign students in China

For foreign students (including Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhstanis), accommodation in the Middle Kingdom can be organized in one of three ways:

1. Student hostel.
2. Flat rent.
3. Accommodation with a local family.

Most foreign students prefer student dormitories. It is worth noting that the lion's share of Chinese universities and colleges own comfortable and well-equipped student dormitories, since all institutions are interested in actively settling students.

…I came to China right after school. Even when I was in 11th grade, I already knew where I wanted to go; fortunately, I never had any problems with my studies. Many thanks to my parents, with whose financial help I was able to come here...

http://pikabu.ru/story/ucheba_v_kitae_3851593

Standard accommodation in such a dormitory is separate rooms for one or two students with a bathroom and toilet. The room has a TV, refrigerator, washing machine, internet. However, living in such conditions is paid - from $400 to $1,500 per year, depending on the level of service.

Video: overview of student dormitory infrastructure

For example, living in a university dormitory in Beijing or Shanghai will cost a student $1,000 for double occupancy or $1,500 for single occupancy. In smaller Chinese cities like Qingdao or Dalian, tariffs are almost half as much. At the same time, renting an apartment is cheaper for a student. In Beijing and Shanghai $250–300, and in Qingdao or Dalian $100–200 per month.

Meanwhile, to live outside the student dormitory, you must obtain appropriate permission. So even if a student has plans to rent housing, he will have to agree on this option with the university coordinator. An independent decision to change a dormitory to a rented apartment may result in disputes with the administration, including expulsion from the university.

Popular educational institutions in China

1. Sun Yat-sen University (Zhongshan University).
2. Peking University.
3. Fudan University.
4. Tsing-Hua University.
5. Huawen College (Vocational School of China).
6. College of Computer Science and Engineering (Information Engineering Vocational College).

Sun Yat-sen University is located in Guangdong Province. This is one of the leading Chinese universities. Students are provided with an extensive range of training programs in the humanities, in the fields of natural, technical, and social sciences. Here they teach medicine, pharmaceuticals, and the intricacies of management.

Peking University is also included in the list of the largest educational institutions in China. The structure of the educational institution is 30 colleges, 12 faculties, hundreds of different specializations. The university has research centers and the largest library at its disposal. The university is a member of the international network - Universities21.

Fudan University was initially positioned as a public school of higher education. This is the oldest educational institution, founded in 1905. The university has 19 institutes and a total of 70 faculties.

Tsinghua University is an educational institution from among the Chinese "C-9 League" - nine elite universities in the country. This is something similar to the American “The Ivy League”. Consistent first place in the National Ranking of Universities in China and a comfortable campus in a picturesque natural location.

Huawen College is a vocational higher education institution. Here students are taught Chinese and trained in various specialties. The college's classrooms are equipped with modern equipment. There are 26 research laboratories.

The College of Computer Science and Engineering was created on the basis of the Institute of Finance. The institution has the status of a special-purpose government institution. It trains specialists of a wide range of profiles, including programmers, technologists, and managers.

Photo gallery: Popular Chinese colleges and universities

Tsinghua University is the prototype of the American “The Ivy League” Fudan University is the oldest educational institution, founded in 1905 Peking University is the largest educational institution in China Sun Yat-sen University is one of the leading Chinese universities Automotive College in Guangzhou is located in Northern China on the basis of a technological university

...We went to college with our son to help him settle in an unfamiliar place at first. Representatives of the college greeted us very warmly, placed us in a room with hotel conditions, with air conditioning, good furniture...

Eugene

http://www.portalchina.ru/feedback.html?obj=10729

...So, I'm already starting classes. In Nanning, I was met by a Chinese woman who studied in Moscow and put me up in a dormitory. By the way, there is a very very beautiful area here, typical South Chinese mountains, like in the pictures, and rice fields, there are mangoes, tangerines, bananas, apples. You can go to Beihai to the beach...

Sergey

http://www.chinastudy.ru/opinions/show/id/17

Lanzhou is a modern Chinese city that provides many opportunities for study.

What are the requirements for foreigners upon admission?

The Chinese Ministry of Education imposes the following requirements on foreigners wishing to enroll in a higher education institution:

1. Applicants must have qualifications that meet the requirements for secondary education.
2. The applicant must have guarantees of funding for studies in China.
3. Prospective students will need a certificate confirming their level of education and a student or visitor visa.
4. A candidate to study in China must confirm his lack of criminal record with a notarized certificate endorsed (signed) at the Chinese Embassy.
5. If a student arrives in China under a transfer program from a foreign educational institution to a Chinese university, he must have a certificate from the administration of the foreign university confirming the fact of the transfer.

Required documents

It is necessary to make high-quality copies of documents. Each copy of the document must have a duplicate in Chinese or English, certified by a notary. As a rule, Chinese universities and colleges, in addition to the applicant’s personal application, require copies of the following documents:

• foreign passport,
• certificate of secondary education,
• diploma from a domestic vocational school or university.

You will also need:

• photo size 4.8x3.3 cm,
• list of subjects studied at school (university),
• IELTS or TOEFL results (for English-language programs),
• HSK (Chinese Language Qualification Test) result,
• medical examination results,
• one or two letters of recommendation,
• certificate of financial guarantees.

Separate requirements apply to applicants under 18 years of age. Parents of such applicants must draw up a power of attorney for an adult living in China. This person must act as a guarantor for the minor student. For students over 18 years of age, only a letter of guarantee from parents, signed and notarized, will be required.

Video: what documents do applicants need?

Scholarship and Grants for International Students

Beginning in 1986, the Chinese Ministry of Education approved the introduction of a new system of scholarships and grants for university and college students. The peculiarity is that scholarships are primarily intended for students who are unable to cover living expenses. The main factors for granting a scholarship are good academic performance, compliance with Chinese state laws, and discipline.

Financial assistance to students is provided by the China Industrial and Commercial Bank. The institution issues long-term education loans at low interest rates. The Chinese government has approved three categories of students who are eligible for financial assistance in the form of scholarships and long-term loans:

1. The best students who have achieved high academic results.
2. Students mastering specializations in the fields of education, agriculture, forestry, maritime navigation, and sports.
3. Students who, upon completion of their studies, expressed a desire to work in remote border areas of China, as well as in places with difficult working conditions.

Scholarships at Chinese universities can reach $2,000 per year. Free education, meals, and accommodation are provided to students of military schools. However, after completing their studies, graduates of such universities are required to perform military service for at least 5 years. Students who have received agricultural, industrial, and narrow specialties through bank loans are sent to work after graduation and repay the debt by deductions from wages.

Visa requirements for students

There are two types of visas available for students - Form X1 and Form X2. The only difference between the two documents is the validity period. The first is issued for 30 days, the second for 180. Documents for registration:

1. Foreign passport with OVIR stamp.
2. Applicant's questionnaire in the prescribed form.
3. A certificate from the bank administration confirming the availability of the necessary funds (at least $100 per day of stay in China).
4. Certificate of completed medical examination.
5. Standard visa photographs.
6. Scanned copy of travel documents (air, train tickets).
7. Consular fees paid.

Please note: the visa does not give the right to refuse registration of temporary stay 24 hours after arrival in China. If registration is not completed during this time, you may face a fine of 200 to 2000 yuan or even eviction from the country.

Courses during study and employment prospects

Courses during study are an integral part of the educational process for almost every foreign student. It is very rare that students who have a thorough command of the Chinese language go to China. Therefore, at least one extra year has to be spent on Chinese language courses.

However, there are many Chinese universities where the educational process is conducted in English. For English-speaking students, this is a plus, but Russian-speaking students will still have to attend English language courses if they do not have such knowledge. Language courses are, one might say, an additional part of Chinese education by default. This topic is relevant for different levels of education, which require different levels of HSK (Chinese Language Proficiency Test).

As for job prospects, not everything is as smooth as we would like. China is a country with a large population. The issue of work for residents of the country is extremely tense. Therefore, the local population tries to find employment first. Foreign citizens - graduates of colleges and universities - fade into the background. The exception is very good specialists. However, it is clear that immediately after graduation, even a person who has perfect knowledge is worthless without good practice.

Working in China while on a student visa is strictly prohibited. If this fact becomes known to the university or the authorities, you will simply be deprived of your visa and given some time to leave China.

Pros and cons of Chinese education (final table)

pros	Minuses
Learning original Chinese	It takes a lot of time and effort to learn a language
High requirements for discipline and stability in attending classes	Study groups are often overcrowded with students
Good living conditions in student dormitories	Fairly high cost of living in student dormitories
The usual training schedule is before lunch, then free time	Almost all your free time should be spent learning the language.
University graduates receive a high-level education	It is difficult to get a job in China in your specialty without having experience

Getting a good education in China is difficult. The first reason for this is the need to speak Chinese. It often takes years to learn a language to an advanced level. But if this is possible, the foreign student acquires an education of a completely different level. And along with the unique Chinese education, naturally, a different standard of living is formed.

The main result of the educational reform carried out in China is the availability of education for the entire population. Today, almost 99% of children in the Middle Kingdom attend school. Until 1949, education was unaffordable for most, and the illiterate population reached 80%.

Preschool

The preschool education system in China is represented by public and private institutions. The Government of the People's Republic of China strongly encourages the development of private preschool organizations. Despite the existence of a general program for educating the younger generation, there are some differences in the process of educating children in public and private kindergartens.

In public institutions, education is more aimed at preparing children for school and introducing them to work, while in private institutions the main attention is paid to the aesthetic and cultural development of children.

Every day begins with raising the national flag, as the Chinese people are proud of their country and strive to instill in the younger generation love and respect for their homeland from early childhood.

The school day in Chinese preschool education organizations is scheduled almost minute by minute. Free time in China is equivalent to idleness. Close attention is paid to personal hygiene and neatness. Teachers strictly ensure that children wash their hands before eating, and after breakfast and lunch in some kindergartens, the children themselves clear the tables. Children are actively taught to work. They grow their own vegetables and then learn to cook from what they grow.

The main difference between Chinese preschool education is the lack of desire to develop the child's individuality. On the contrary, educators do everything possible to prevent the little person from even thinking that he is special.

Teachers fully control children’s behavior even during games. Everything is subject to the strictest discipline. Despite criticism of this practice by other countries, the Chinese believe in its effectiveness, because they believe that what the state needs, children also need.

Most preschool institutions are open until six in the evening, but there are also those where the child can be left overnight.

School

The school education system in China consists of three levels:

• primary;
• average;
• eldest.

A child spends 6 years in elementary school, and 3 years in middle and high school. The first two stages are mandatory and free; you have to pay for training at the final stage.

The primary school program includes:

• Chinese;
• mathematics;
• history;
• natural history;
• geography;
• music.

Sometimes there are additional lectures on morals and ethics. The program also includes practical training, during which children work in various workshops or on farms.

In secondary school, in-depth study of the Chinese language, mathematics and a foreign language (most often English) is carried out. Children master exact sciences, computer science, and much attention is paid to political literacy.

The education system in Chinese schools involves a huge workload, so the school day is divided into two parts. In the first half, basic subjects are studied, in the second - additional ones. Students spend almost all of their holidays doing extensive homework.

Discipline in schools is very strict. If you miss twelve classes without a good reason, the student is expelled. All exams are in the form of tests, and knowledge is assessed on a 100-point scale. After graduating from high school, further education is not necessary. But if the child has a desire, and the parents’ financial capabilities allow it, then they can enroll in high school.

Before continuing education, the student must choose a direction of study. There are two types of high schools in China:

• academic profile - they provide in-depth study of sciences and prepare students for universities;
• vocational and technical - in which personnel are trained to work in production.

Higher

In China, higher education is available after high school graduation. The government of the republic annually allocates quite significant funds to improve level of education in universities. As a result of this policy, many Chinese universities are among the best on the planet, and their diplomas are recognized in 64 countries.

The higher education system in China includes colleges, vocational high schools and universities.

There are two types of college curriculum:

• two-year course - training of mid-level specialists, at the end of the course the student receives a certificate;
• four-year - after training, a bachelor's degree is issued.

The academic year in Chinese universities is divided into two semesters - spring and autumn. Winter holidays last from late January to February, summer holidays last 2 months (July and August).

For the most part, Chinese universities, unlike well-known universities in Europe and the USA, work in rather narrow areas - archaeology, agriculture, pedagogy. In university programs that train politicians and diplomats, a significant portion of time is devoted to public speaking and writing skills.

To attract foreign students, education in all universities in the Celestial Empire is conducted in two languages ​​- Chinese and English. Special additional courses are offered to those wishing to study in Chinese.

Upon graduation from Chinese universities, you can obtain a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree.

Being Chinese is not easy. When there are more than one and a half billion of you in a country without social guarantees, you have to work hard to find a place in the sun. But Chinese children are ready for this - their hard work begins in first grade.

At one time, I worked as an English teacher in four Chinese schools (and as a trainer at a kung fu school). Therefore, it is very interesting to compare Russian education and the features of schools in the Middle Kingdom.

Children in school uniform―tracksuits―at a lesson dedicated to Earth Day, Liaocheng, April 2016.

1. Many schools in China do not have heating, so teachers and students do not take off their outerwear in winter. Central heating is available exclusively in the north of the country. In central and southern China, buildings are designed for warm climates. This means that in winter, when the temperature can drop to zero, and sometimes even lower, the only means of heating is air conditioning. School uniform - tracksuit: wide pants and jacket. The cut is almost the same everywhere, only the colors of the suit and the school emblem on the chest differ. All school grounds are bordered by large iron gates, which are always kept closed, opening only to allow students to leave.
2. In Chinese schools, they do exercises every day (and more than one) and conduct a general exercise. The morning at school begins with exercises, then a line on which the main news is reported and the flag is raised - school or state. After the third lesson, all children do exercises to relax their eyes. To the accompaniment of soothing music and a recorded narrator's voice, schoolchildren click on special dots. In addition to morning exercises, there is afternoon exercise - around two o'clock in the afternoon, when, to the same inexorable loudspeaker, schoolchildren pour out into the corridor in a single impulse (if there is not enough space in the classrooms), begin to raise their arms to the sides and up and jump.

Chinese schoolchildren from the city of Jinan do exercises on the roof.

1. A big break, also known as a lunch break, usually lasts an hour.. During this time, children have time to go to the canteen (if there is no canteen at the school, they are brought food in special trays-boxes), have lunch, and also run, stretch their legs, scream and play pranks. Teachers in all schools are given free lunch. And, I must say, the food is very good. Lunch traditionally consists of one meat and two vegetable dishes, rice and soup. Expensive schools also provide fruit and yogurt. People in China love to eat, and even at school traditions are observed. After the lunch break, some junior schools allow five minutes of “sleep time.” By the way, a couple of times my students fell asleep in the middle of the lesson, and the poor things had to be woken up with their hearts bleeding.

A variant of a modest school lunch by Chinese standards: eggs with tomatoes, tofu, cauliflower with pepper, rice.

1. The attitude towards teachers is very respectful. They are called by their surname with the prefix "teacher", such as Teacher Zhang or Teacher Xiang. Or just “teacher”. In one school, students - no matter whether they were mine or not - bowed when they met me.
2. In many schools, physical punishment is the order of the day. A teacher can hit a student with his hand or a pointer for some offense. The further away from big cities and the simpler the school, the more common this is. My Chinese friend told me that at school they were given a certain time to learn English words. And for every unlearned word they were beaten with a stick.

Recess during traditional drumming classes, Ansai city.

1. There is a rating of student performance in the classroom, which encourages students to study better. Grades range from A to F, where A is the highest, corresponding to 90-100%, and F - unsatisfactory 59%. Rewarding good behavior is an important part of the educational system. For example, for a correct answer or exemplary behavior in class, a student receives a star of a certain color or additional points. Points and stars will be deducted for talking in class or misconduct. The progress of schoolchildren is reflected on a special chart on the board. The competition, so to speak, is obvious.
2. Chinese children study more than 10 hours every day. Lessons usually last from eight in the morning until three or four in the afternoon, after which the children go home and do endless homework until nine or ten in the evening. On weekends, schoolchildren from big cities necessarily have some kind of additional classes with tutors; they go to music school, art schools and sports sections. Due to the highest level of competition, children are under pressure from their parents from childhood. If they cannot do well in the exam after primary school (and compulsory education in China takes 12–13 years), then the path to university is barred.

On September 1, first-graders of the Confucius School in Nanjing take part in the ceremony of writing the hieroglyph “ren” (“person”), which begins their education.

1. Schools are divided into public and private. Tuition fees at private schools can reach up to thousands of dollars per month. The level of education in them is many times higher. Particular importance is attached to learning a foreign language. 2-3 English lessons a day, and by the 5th-6th grade, students of elite schools already speak English fluently. However, for example, in Shanghai there is a special state program, paid for by the government, under which foreign teachers also teach in regular public schools.
2. The education system is based on rote memorization. Children simply memorize a huge amount of material. Teachers demand automatic reproduction, without particularly caring about how understandable the learned material is. But now alternative education systems are gaining increasing popularity: Montessori or Waldorf, aimed at developing children's creative abilities. Of course, such schools are private, education in them is expensive and accessible to a very small number of people.
3. Children from poor families who do not want to study or are too disobedient (in the opinion of their parents) are often taken out of the general education institution and sent to kung fu schools. There they live on full board, train from morning to evening and, if they are lucky, receive a basic primary education: they must be able to read and write, and, given the Chinese language system, this is very difficult. In such institutions, physical punishment is the order of the day.

Classes at a kung fu school.

Teachers hit students with a stick-sword or, without further ado, they can kick or slap students. But at the end of the day, the parents get a disciplined young man with the profession of a kung fu trainer and at least some chance of making his way into the ranks. Most of the famous kung fu masters went through just such a school of life. It is also quite common for children with poor health to be sent here for a year or two so that they can strengthen their health by living and practicing kung fu or tai chi.

Regardless of where Chinese children study - in a kung fu school or a regular one, they learn from childhood three main qualities: ability to work, discipline and respect for elders by age and hierarchy.

They are taught from childhood that they must be the best, no matter what. Perhaps this is why the Chinese are now beginning to occupy leading positions in all branches of science, culture and art. Competing with Europeans who grew up in warmer conditions, they often do not leave them a chance. Simply because we are not used to studying for ten hours straight. Every day. All year round.

Previously, the site had already published an article about how the Chinese educational system differs from ours. In continuation of this topic, I would like to talk in more detail about Chinese schools: How do they differ from ours?

Like most countries, the school year in China begins on the first of September. For our compatriots, preparing for this day is probably the most difficult and costly time, because you need to buy so many things for your child so that he can study normally. As for parents in China, some aspects of preparing a child for school are not that expensive. This primarily concerns school uniforms. All schools in China I have my own uniform, which schoolchildren must wear regardless of what grade they are in. The student's clothing consists of a shirt, trousers (skirt) and a baseball cap with the school emblem embroidered on it. All other supplies, without which education in Chinese schools cannot be complete, are purchased by parents themselves.

Schools in China They conduct twelve years of education, which is divided into three levels: primary school and two levels of secondary school. Every year on the first of September, more than 400 million students from first to twelfth grades come to school. Half of them are first-graders and students of the first stage of secondary school.

In order for a child to receive at least compulsory secondary education, he must attend school for at least 9 years: 6 years in primary school and three years in the first stage of secondary school. Receiving a complete education is carried out at the request of the parents and the student himself. To be able to continue your studies at a university, you must complete all twelve classes and pass final exams. But more on that later.

In order for a child to be accepted into first grade schools in China, like ours, they conduct some kind of exams to determine the child’s level of knowledge. But, if in our schools it is written work and interviews, then in Chinese it is testing. The future student must mark the correct answer to the question posed from the 3-4 options offered. Having completed their primary education after six years of study, schoolchildren take their first exams. This kind of cross-section of knowledge allows the child to score the required number of points for admission to secondary school. High results in these exams allow the student to move on to secondary school at a university, the completion of which guarantees admission to that university.

Chinese schools conduct unified state final exams, which are also entrance exams for admission to a university. As mentioned earlier in the article about Chinese educational system All higher education institutions are ranked by level of prestige, and for admission you need to score a certain number of points in school exams. The application can be sent to several educational institutions whose passing score is lower or corresponds to the number of points that was scored during the exams.

It would not be amiss to note that universities and schools in China differ from our educational institutions in their high level of workload. This is due to the fact that students must learn more than several thousand hieroglyphs, which must not only be written correctly, but also pronounced correctly. Taking this into account, the Department of Education in Beijing adopted a resolution according to which school classes begin at 8 am and last no more than eight hours a day. At the same time, the curriculum increased the number of physical education lessons to 70 minutes per week.

Many readers may feel that the above applies to private schools. But I would like to clarify right away that this educational system is used in public schools.

Schools in China operate on the principle of a five-day working week, just like most Russian schools. This is where the similarity ends. If in Russian schools first-graders study for a maximum of 13 hours, then their Chinese “colleagues” are in the educational institution until 16 days. Due to the heavy workload, the school day is divided into two parts. From 8 to half past eleven, children study basic subjects: Chinese and foreign languages, mathematics, which are on the schedule every day. Then, children can rest and have lunch until 2 pm, and then continue their studies. In the afternoon, students in Chinese schools study secondary subjects: singing, labor, physical education and drawing.

Chinese schools are special in that each class has an average of 30-40 students. The learning process is divided into two semesters, the results of which are displayed on a report card. It is worth mentioning that the assessment of children's achievements during school is carried out using a hundred-point system. All current results are posted in the class journal and parents, if desired, can monitor the progress of their children.

Big plus in Chinese educational system the fact that the educational process is carefully controlled by the government, and schools constantly receive funding from the treasury for ongoing repairs of buildings or updating of the material and technical base.