Learning From China…

The Sixth in a Series of Studies of Education in Other Countries

Why China?• Emergence as an Economic

Powerhouse

• Competitive High School System Producing Large Numbers of Well-Schooled Young People

• Existing Ties Between NC & China

A Word About China• Population

• Rush to Modernize

• Vibrant Urban Centers

• Centralized Government

• Stark Divides

Drive for Universal Education Began in 1949

• Tradition of Valuing Education

• Cultural Evolution Set Education Drive Back for a Decade

• Today’s System Essentially Created Since the Late Seventies

Lessons Learned

(Albeit with a Caveat)

A Lesson LearnedMuch Can Be Accomplished When a Country is Clear About its Goals & Vision for Education

Mathematics

Science

Foreign Language

A Lesson Learned

Investing in Top Students Can PayLarge Dividends

“Key” Schools

Upper 5-10%

Pool of 90 Million HS Students

(compared to 20 million US)

A Lesson Learned

High Schools Have Clear Focus -Academic or Occupational/Technical

Technical High Schools Offer Cutting Edge Course Work

Focus on Application

Direct Link to Economic Needs

A Lesson Learned

The Job of a Chinese Student is to Learn

Distractions Minimized (i.e., cars, sports, marriage)

200 Day School Year; Longer School Day

Some Residential Schools

A Lesson Learned

High Expectations Begin at ElementaryLevel

High Expectations

Achievement Honored

Rigor Early – Math, Science

A Lesson LearnedCultural Difference Evident

Obesity, Exercise, Regimen

Large Class Size

Respect/Discipline

A Lesson Learned

Teaching is Valued/Respected

Focus on Staff Development (240 Hours Per Year)

Time During the Day

Pay/Levels of teaching

Constant Focus on Honing Teaching Skills

Rewards

A Lesson Learned

Schools Have an International Focus

Foreign Languages

Exchange Teachers/Programs

All that Glitters is not Gold…

Challenges Facing China’s Schools

Challenges

• Two Sides of Meritocracy Coin

• Tuition Becoming Commonplace

• Limited Options for Higher Education(4 million seats; 9 million applicants)

• Pressure from Competition

• A Yawning Education Opportunity Gap

Challenges Aside…

It is remarkable to See the EducationalFoundation China Has Created in LessThan 30 Years

300,000 college grads majored in engineering or technology – last year alone

More Chinese took the SAT in English last year in China than there were U.S. Students taking it.

Recap…1) Clear Goals & Vision for Education

2) Goals Reflect Ambitions to Be a World Leader

3) High Expectations

4) Importance of Teachers is Recognized