China’s basic education system ... * Joel L. Jayme

Dear Professor Olga,

Greetings of Peace!

When I heard the report of Ms. Mercy O. Caronia regarding the educational system of the Republic of China, I learned many things from it. The basic education of this country involves pre-school, nine year compulsory education from elementary to junior high school, standard senior high school education, special education for disabled children, and education for illiterate people. China has over 200 million elementary and high school students, who, together with pre school children, account for one sixth of the total population. For this reason the Central Government has prioritized basic education as a key of infrastructure construction and educational development.

In recent years, senior high school education has developed steadily. In 2004 enrolment was 8.21 million, 2.3 times that of 1998. Gross national enrolment in senior high schools has reached 43.8 percent, still lower than that of developed countries. The government has created a special fund to improve conditions in China’s elementary and high schools, for new construction, expansion and the rebuilding of run down structures.

Government’s aim for the development of China’s basic education system is to approach or attain the level of moderately developed countries by 2010. The development of primary education in so vast a country as China has been a formidable accomplishment. In contrast to the 20 percent enrolment rate before 1949, in 1985 about 96 percent of primary school age children were enrolled in approximately 832, 300 primary schools. This enrolment figure compared favorably with the record figures of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.


* Joel L. Jayme