In China, a country where culture and education are closely intertwined, learning is valued as much as the country's thousand-year-old history. The value of education has become one of the key factors contributing to the rapid development of the Chinese economy. Education here is the best social elevator that gives everyone equal opportunities.
Chinese culture is based on the principles of collectivism and the value of stoic patience. These qualities, combined with high standards of education, contributed to the "economic miracle" that the Celestial Empire demonstrated to the whole world. For centuries, the Chinese have developed a unique mentality and culture that has influenced their entire history.
How was this mentality formed?
All of a sudden, let's start -- with agriculture. Rice cultivation in China is a process that requires a collective effort and coordinated work. This joint work contributed to the formation of special features of the Chinese mentality: accuracy, diligence, endurance and awareness of the need for teamwork to achieve goals. To systematize the rice harvest, they even came up with a special hieroglyph — the foundation of Chinese writing and culture.
Learning hieroglyphs also requires several qualities: patience, attention to the smallest details, perseverance and calmness. These same qualities are necessary for a successful education in China. Educated Chinese believe that uncompromising, hard work and perseverance will lead to the achievement of their goals.
Education as a Career Path
For many Chinese, a career as a civil servant is considered to be the highest achievement: officials are traditionally highly respected and occupy a significant place in the social hierarchy of China. During the Qin Dynasty, a system of ranks and subranks for officials was introduced. These ranks included various positions: advisors to the emperor, chief secretaries, district administrators, tax collectors, and others, all of which were highly respected by the population.
In China's history, there has always been a marked superiority of civilians over military in the hierarchy of society, reflecting a cultural preference for knowledge over physical force. In the modern Chinese education system, cheating or cheating on exams is considered unacceptable, because success in school exams and in entering university opens the way to the cherished goal of public service.
The population of the Celestial Empire exceeds one and a half billion people, so the state apparatus is extensive. Each position requires high qualifications, which emphasizes the importance of quality education.
The Structure of Chinese Education
Education in China is divided into several stages:
- Preschool
- Initial
- Intermediate (part-time and full-time),
- University
- Postgraduate study.
Pre-school education begins at the age of three: it is compulsory, without it it is impossible to move to primary school. Kindergartens begin teaching pinyin , a system for transcribing the sounds of the Chinese language, which is important in preparing for the study of hieroglyphs and Chinese writing.
The Chinese enter primary school at the age of six. The primary school curriculum covers academics, physical development, and creativity. The school day usually starts at 7 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m., after which students return home.
The next important stage is the choice between secondary education and vocational training, which determines the future path of the student - continuing his studies at the university or preparing for a working profession. Vocational training lasts four years, and secondary education is divided into two stages of three years each: the first and higher levels.
Secondary education in China is compulsory and free up to the higher level, which is possible only after successfully passing competitive exams. The highest level of secondary education in the Celestial Empire is paid and involves serious competition for a place. Admission to the higher level is considered a difficult stage that not every citizen is able to overcome, even the ability to pay for education does not guarantee success in case of failure in exams.
Regardless of whether a Chinese person has chosen a working profession or secondary education, discipline and diligence are mandatory qualities for all students. Absences can lead to expulsion from school, and students who do not pass the final exam lose the opportunity to enter a university and can only count on obtaining a working specialty.
The Importance of Higher Education in China
The value of higher education in China is enormous, and the history of the state has contributed to this. In the 20th century, the country had a policy of limiting the number of children in a family - one child per family. This kid, especially the boy, carried a huge responsibility on his shoulders, including the obligation to get a quality education. In China, there is a belief that diligent and disciplined learning is the key to ensuring the well-being of the family in the future.
Traditionally, the Chinese prefer to pursue higher education within the country: this helps to establish useful ties and strengthen national identity. However, sometimes applicants face obstacles: competition or lack of money to study in China, which forces them to study abroad.
