Compulsory education in China: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|none}}

{{Orphan|date=January 2024}}

 

'''Compulsory education''' is the law for youth '''in the People's Republic of China (PRC)'''.

 

 

In 1986 the "Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China" was promulgated, and mainland China formally implemented nine years of compulsory education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中华人民共和国义务教育法（主席令第五十二号） |url=http://www.gov.cn/flfg/2006-06/30/content_323302.htm |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref> In 2001, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] stated that mandatory nine-year education was universal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=国务院关于基础教育改革与发展的决定_2001年第23号国务院公报_中国政府网 |url=http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2001/content_60920.htm |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

In the PRC all youths must attend school from age six to fifteen, and parents must allow their children to do so and cover the associated costs. Compulsory education is in effect throughout mainland China. Families with financial difficulties can apply for [[two exemptions and one subsidy plan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-30 |title=概念阐释：什么是"两免一补"？-中国教育 |trans-title=What is "two exemptions and one supplement"? |url=https://www.edu.cn/edu/ji_chu/ji_jiao_zhuan_ti/xiaocanzhuo/201103/t20110330_594397.shtml#:~:text=2005%25E5%25B9%25B4%25EF%25BC%258C%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E5%25A4%25AE%25E5%2592%258C%25E5%259C%25B0%25E6%2596%25B9%25E8%25B4%25A2%25E6%2594%25BF%25E5%25AE%2589%25E6%258E%2592%25E2%2580%259C%25E4%25B8%25A4%25E5%2585%258D%25E4%25B8%2580%25E8%25A1%25A5%25E8%25B5%2584%25E9%2587%259170%25E5%25A4%259A%25E4%25BA%25BF%25E5%2585%2583%25EF%25BC%258C%25E5%2585%25B1%25E8%25B5%2584%25E5%258A%25A9%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E8%25A5%25BF%25E9%2583%25A8%25E8%25B4%25AB%25E5%259B%25B0%25E5%25AE%25B6%25E5%25BA%25AD%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E7%2594%259F3400%25E4%25B8%2587%25E4%25BA%25BA%25E3%2580%2582%25202006%25E5%25B9%25B4%25E5%258F%2588%25E4%25BB%258E%25E8%25A5%25BF%25E9%2583%25A8%25E5%259C%25B0%25E5%258C%25BA%25E5%25BC%2580%25E5%25A7%258B%25E5%2585%25A8%25E9%2583%25A8%25E5%2585%258D%25E9%2599%25A4%25E5%2586%259C%25E6%259D%2591%25E4%25B9%2589%25E5%258A%25A1%25E6%2595%2599%25E8%2582%25B2%25E9%2598%25B6%25E6%25AE%25B5%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E7%2594%259F%25E7%259A%2584%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E6%259D%2582%25E8%25B4%25B9%25EF%25BC%258C%25E4%25BA%25AB%25E5%258F%2597%25E5%2585%258D%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E6%259D%2582%25E8%25B4%25B9%25E6%2594%25BF%25E7%25AD%2596%25E7%259A%2584%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E7%2594%259F%25E8%25BE%25BE%25E5%2588%25B04880%25E4%25B8%2587%25E4%25BA%25BA%25E3%2580%2582,2007%25E5%25B9%25B4%25EF%25BC%258C%25E5%2585%25A8%25E5%259B%25BD%25E5%2586%259C%25E6%259D%2591%25E4%25B9%2589%25E5%258A%25A1%25E6%2595%2599%25E8%2582%25B2%25E9%2598%25B6%25E6%25AE%25B5%25E5%25AE%25B6%25E5%25BA%25AD%25E7%25BB%258F%25E6%25B5%258E%25E5%259B%25B0%25E9%259A%25BE%25E5%25AD%25A6%25E7%2594%259F%25E5%259D%2587%25E4%25BA%25AB%25E5%258F%2597%25E5%2588%25B0%25E4%25BA%2586%25E2%2580%259C%25E4%25B8%25A4%25E5%2585%258D%25E4%25B8%2580%25E8%25A1%25A5%25E2%2580%259D%25E6%2594%25BF%25E7%25AD%2596%25E3%2580%2582%2520%25E5%25AE%259E%25E8%25A1%258C%25E2%2580%259C%25E4%25B8%25A4%25E5%2585%258D%25E4%25B8%2580%25E8%25A1%25A5%25E2%2580%259D%25E6%2598%25AF |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.edu.cn}}</ref>

 

 

Primary and secondary education is free only for public/state schools. Various private primary and secondary schools (including international schools) that charge fees are available in first- and second-tier cities with developed economies); in 2015, the proportion of private schools reached 10%, and the education market exceeded 315 million yuan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-20 |title=私立学校——中国家长的新宠 |trans-title=Private schools – the new favorite of Chinese parents |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukchina/simp/vert_cap/2016/01/160120_vert_cap_chinese-love-of-private-school |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=BBC 英伦网 |language=zh-hans}}</ref>

}}

On April 12, 1986, the [[6th National People's Congress|Sixth National People's Congress]]'s fourth meeting passed the "Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China," which included provisions for nine-year compulsory education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-06-30 |title=中华人民共和国义务教育法（主席令第五十二号） |trans-title=Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China (Order of the President No. 52) |url=https://www.gov.cn/flfg/2006-06/30/content_323302.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

{{Cquote|The state implements a nine-year compulsory education system.<br />Compulsory education is an education that all school-age children and adolescents must receive, and it is a public welfare undertaking that the state must guarantee.<br/>Implementation of compulsory education, no tuition fees, miscellaneous fees.<br/>The state establishes a compulsory educational funding guarantee mechanism to ensure the implementation of the compulsory education system.

| source = "Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China", 1986 edition (2015 revision), Article 2

}}

On June 29, 2006, the 22nd meeting of the [[Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress]] revised the law, clarifying that the essence of compulsory education should be [[Quality Education]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-06-29 |title=十届全国人大常委会第二十二次会闭会 吴邦国讲话 |trans-title=Speech by Wu Bangguo at the closing session of the 22nd Session of the 10th NPC Standing Committee |url=https://www.gov.cn/govweb/ldhd/2006-06/29/content_323154.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

{{Cquote|Compulsory education must implement the country's education policy, provide quality education, improve the quality of education, and enable school-age children and teenagers to develop in an all-around way regarding morality, intelligence, and physique. This will cultivate socialist construction with ideals, character, culture, and discipline—corrected text: Lay the foundation for successors and successors.

| source = "Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China", 2006 Edition (2015 Revision), Article 3

== Right to free education==

In the PRC, the right to education has gradually become taken seriously, especially in urban areas where deprivation is considered a serious crime. The Law on the Protection of Minors has provisions related to the right of school-age children to compulsory education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-18 |title=《中华人民共和国未成年人保护法》2012年修正本（全文）-政策法规-郑州威驰外资企业服务中心 |trans-title=2012 Amendment to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors (full text) |url=https://www.waizi.org.cn/law/4966.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.waizi.org.cn}}</ref>

{{Cquote|'''Article 13'''　Parents or other guardians shall respect the right of minors to receive education, enable children of school age to enrol in school to receive and complete compulsory education per the law, and not allow juveniles receiving compulsory education to drop out of school.

<br/>......<br/>

| source = "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors", 1991 Edition (Revised in 2013)

}}

 

In China, the legal minimum age for working is sixteen. Work contracts signed before reaching sixteen have no legal force. Even if children under 16 are recruited in industries such as art and sports, their right to receive compulsory education is guaranteed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中华人民共和国劳动法 |trans-title=Labor Law of the People's Republic of China |url=https://www.gov.cn/banshi/2005-05/25/content_905.htm |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

{{Cquote|'''Article 61'''　No organization or individual may recruit minors under the age of 16 unless otherwise stipulated by the state.<br/>......<br/>

'''Article 125'''　Violations of the provisions of Article 61 of this law shall be ordered by the departments of culture and tourism, human resources and social security, and market supervision and management to make corrections within a time limit according to the division of responsibilities, give warnings, confiscate illegal gains, and may concurrently impose a fine of less than 100,000 yuan. If it refuses to make corrections or if the circumstances are serious, it shall be ordered to suspend production or business, or its business license and related permits shall be revoked, and a fine of not less than 100,000 yuan shall be imposed. Not more than 1 million yuan shall be imposed.<br />......<br />

| source = "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors", 1991 Edition (Revised in 2013)

}}

 

Governments at all levels in China have implemented two exemptions: tuition and miscellaneous fees are exempted, and textbooks are provided free of charge. For those who have financial difficulties paying tuition fees, the "[[two exemptions and one subsidy plan]]" policy was implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-29 |title=免费教科书 城乡学生都享受 – 中华人民共和国教育部政府门户网站 |trans-title=Free textbooks for both urban and rural students – Ministry of Education, PRC Government portal |url=http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/gzdt_gzdt/s5987/201709/t20170929_315701.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.moe.gov.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-09-23 |title=实行"两免一补"政策 |trans-title=Implement the policy of "two exemptions and one subsidy" |url=https://www.gov.cn/ztzl/fupin/content_396672.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref> This means that in addition to the exemptions, living expenses are subsidized. However, schools may charge homework fees, school uniform fees, board fees, boarding school accommodation fees, etc., according to the situation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=不是说义务教育免费吗？为何学校依然收费？哪些收费是合理的？ |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/163143453_804536 |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=www.sohu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-11 |title=关于两免一补政策解读_灵璧县人民政府 |trans-title=On two exemptions and one Supplement policy Interpretation _ Lingbi County People's Government |url=https://www.lingbi.gov.cn/grassroots/6627911/156572981.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.lingbi.gov.cn}}</ref>

 

* Education should develop in a balanced manner across each region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-19 |title=认真学习贯彻《义务教育法》全面推进义务教育均衡发展 – 中华人民共和国教育部政府门户网站 |trans-title=Conscientiously study and implement "Compulsory Education Law" comprehensively promote the balanced development of Compulsory education – Ministry of Education, PRC government portal website |url=http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/xw_zt/moe_2076/moe_1468/moe_1512/moe_1513/tnull_23455.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.moe.gov.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-23 |title=从国际国内两个视角看义务教育均衡发展问题 |trans-title=The balanced development of compulsory education from international and domestic perspectives |url=http://www.jyb.cn/education/lilun/201004/t20100423_355473_2.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.jyb.cn}}</ref>

== School-running system==

{| class="wikitable" align="RIGHT"

!grade

!age

 

== Elementary school==

=== Admission===

The "Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China" specifies the age at which primary school students are required to start school:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-06-29 |title=中华人民共和国义务教育法（主席令第五十二号） |trans-title=Compulsory Education Law of the People's Republic of China |url=https://www.gov.cn/flfg/2006-06/30/content_323302.htm |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

 

=== Political education===

{{See also|Young Pioneers of China|Red scarf|}}

The "Articles of Association [[Young Pioneers of China]], " revised in 2005, stipulated that the minimum age for joining the organization would be lowered from 7 to 6 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=China Youth Daily |date=2005-06-04 |title=第五次全国少代会通过《中国少年先锋队章程（修正案）》 |trans-title=The Fifth National Youth Congress adopted the Constitution of the Chinese Youth Vanguard (Amendment) |url=http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2005-06/04/content_1125956.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=zqb.cyol.com}}</ref> Before this revision, the requirement for newly enrolled primary school students was to wear green scarves for six months to one year due to the one-year gap between joining and enrollment. This differentiated them from students wearing red scarves. Students with poor academic performance were also given green scarves.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=儿童绿领巾礼物,绿领巾代表什么？-让礼圈 |trans-title=Green scarf gift for children. What does green scarf stand for? |url=https://www.rangliquan.com/article-1-m2023051010120908c2sg-0.html |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=www.rangliquan.com}}</ref>

 

 

 

In elementary school, squadron committees work in each [[Class (education)|class]] to work in conjunction with the class committees, making them nearly indistinguishable. The squad leader, who is typically also the squadron leader, is responsible for overseeing the collective efforts of the class. The squadron committee of the course typically comprises the following roles:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-28 |title=小学中队委学生干部职责 |trans-title=Primary school team committee student cadre responsibilities |url=https://www.yjbys.com/hr/gangwei/3303397.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.yjbys.com}}</ref>

* Language. The primary focus of this course is to acquire fundamental knowledge of Chinese characters, ''[[pinyin]]'', poetry, classical Chinese, and contemporary Chinese. For example, Chinese textbooks compiled by the People's Education Press in 2017 prioritize teaching Chinese characters before pinyin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-29 |title=教育部新编《语文》教材，把汉语、汉字摆回到第一位置，拼音推后！ |trans-title=Ministry of Education new "Chinese" textbooks, put Chinese, Chinese characters back to the first position, Pinyin behind! |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/168179977_694411 |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.sohu.com}}</ref> 30% of Chinese textbooks is dedicated to ancient poetry and essays, with a greater emphasis on extracurricular reading.<ref>{{Cite web |title=古诗文在小学语文中占比30% |trans-title=Ancient poetry and prose account for 30% in primary school language |url=http://app.why.com.cn/epaper/webpc/qnb/html/2017-08/29/content_36386.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=app.why.com.cn}}</ref> A longer classical Chinese report is included in the second semester of fifth grade. The study of contemporary literature provides a solid basis for instructing students in middle school.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-24 |title=中小学语文教材将修订 反映中华优秀传统文化内容超30%_央广网 |trans-title=More than 30 percent of Chinese textbooks for primary and secondary schools will be revised to reflect excellent traditional Chinese culture |url=http://china.cnr.cn/ygxw/20160524/t20160524_522222905.shtml |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=china.cnr.cn}}</ref>

* Math

* Science. The essential content of material science, life science, earth and space science, technology and engineering, and preparing to introduce physics, chemistry, geography, and biology in middle schools. Science courses are taught from the first grade of primary school as an introductory course.<ref>{{Cite web |title=小学一年级增设科学课 怎么教才科学？-中国教育 |trans-title=How to teach science in the first grade of primary school? |url=https://www.edu.cn/edu/ji_chu/ji_jiao_news/201708/t20170821_1548697.shtml |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=www.edu.cn}}</ref>

* Music

* Sports & health

* Labor. Content is divided into daily life labor (cleaning, storage, cooking, etc.), productive labor (agriculture, traditional crafts, new technologies, etc.), and service labor (public welfare volunteering, etc.)

Depending on the actual situation, the following courses may be offered:

* Foreign languages. Especially for English, almost all qualified schools in the country offer it in the middle and upper grades (starting from third grade).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-01-18 |title=教育部关于积极推进小学开设英语课程的指导意见 – 中华人民共和国教育部政府门户网站 |trans-title=Ministry of Education Guidelines on Actively promoting English Courses in primary Schools – Government portal website of Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China |url=http://www.moe.gov.cn/s78/A26/jces_left/moe_714/tnull_665.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.moe.gov.cn}}</ref> Good primary schools teach English from first grade.

* [[National language]]. Minority schools operate in ethnic autonomous areas and mixed-inhabited areas.

* School-based courses, local courses, and extracurricular interest courses.

Since no unified examination applies to graduating from primary school, quality of courses other than Chinese, mathematics, and English vary. Primary schools in rural areas generally offer only Chinese, mathematics, and physical education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-09 |title=温家宝：一定要把农村教育办得更好 |trans-title=Wen Jiabao: We must do a better job in rural education |url=https://www.gov.cn/ldhd/2011-09/09/content_1943988.htm |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

 

 

== Middle school==

Compulsory education continues after primary school. The only means of pursuing higher education is enrolling in a middle school, also referred to as middle school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=全国小升初政策汇总—初中划片—中国教育在线 |trans-title=National policy summary – junior high school classification – China Education Online |url=https://www.eol.cn/html/jijiao/xschz/index.shtml |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.eol.cn}}</ref>

 

In mainland China students gain admission to middle schools through various means:

 

* Residency'':'' This is the most widely used system in small and medium-sized cities and rural areas. The procedure involves dividing a county into districts. Within each community, a middle school is designated , and all primary school graduates within the district enrol in that school. Some high-quality middle schools or those near district boundaries may also enrol students from neighbouring communities. In urban areas, parents often seek to purchase properties near high-quality educational resources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=家长们醒醒吧！学区房不等于好教育 —中国教育在线 |trans-title=Parents, wake up! School district housing does not equal a good education |url=https://xiaoxue.eol.cn/focus/news/201704/t20170411_1505710.shtml |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=xiaoxue.eol.cn}}</ref> This is due to the uneven distribution of such resources. In mountainous regions such as [[Guizhou]], Sichuan, and [[Shaanxi]], schools face limited infrastructure, sparse student population, and absence of school transportation. Students may travel more than ten kilometres on foot to attend school daily. In this instance, many students drop out.

* Nine-year consistent school: During the transition from sixth to seventh grade, certain schools reorganize their class structures.

 

The typical class size in middle schools is 60 students, although it may vary between 30 and 80 students.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.docin.com/p-1419413381.html |title=我国初中班级规模的现状、问题及调整对策研究 |date=2016-01-08 |language=zh-cn |trans-title=Study on the status quo, problems and countermeasures of middle school class size}}</ref>

 

=== Political education===

From the second to the third year of middle school, students leave the Young Pioneers and join the [[Communist Youth League of China|Chinese Communist Youth League]] (CYL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国共产主义青年团简介 |trans-title=Introduction to the Communist Youth League of China |url=https://tw.shzu.edu.cn/zggczyqntjj/list.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=tw.shzu.edu.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=中国共青团网 |trans-title=China Communist Youth League Net |url=https://www.gqt.org.cn/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.gqt.org.cn}}</ref> It is one of the world's largest youth organizations with 89 million members.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-06-11 |title=共青团作为我国最大青年组织助年轻人"孵化"理想 |trans-title=As the country's largest youth organization, the Communist Youth League helps young people "incubate" their ideals |url=https://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2008-06/11/content_1013756.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref> According to the Constitution of the Communist Youth League of China, Chinese youths over the age of 14 and under the age of 28 participate, actively work with it, implement its resolutions, and pay dues. Some people join at age twelve or thirteen, while others join later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国共产主义青年团章程 |trans-title=Constitution of the Communist Youth League of China |url=https://www.gov.cn/test/2008-04/18/content_947849.htm |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref>

 

 

 

=== Curriculum===

Students must complete nine main subjects, seven examined at the end of Year 9 and two at the end of Year 8.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-23 |title=初中课程有哪些科目（初中9门课程介绍与学习技巧） – 知己情感 |trans-title=Junior high school 9 curriculum introduction |url=https://www.zhiji520.com/baike/2448.html |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.zhiji520.com}}</ref>

 

 

Students also study physical education, music, art, information technology, labour technology, and other courses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-09 |title=（2）中小学音乐、体育、美术、劳动技术与专题教育课程设置与实施调研专报（6页）-原创力文档 |trans-title=Special report on the investigation and implementation of music, physical education, fine arts, labor technology and special education curriculum in primary and secondary schools |url=https://max.book118.com/html/2020/0908/7051003105002166.shtm |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=max.book118.com}}</ref> Students in some areas and schools also receive instruction in ethnic languages, local practices, and school-based procedures.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.docin.com/p-2871055127.html |title=少数民族语言教育现状及发展对策 |language=zh-cn |trans-title=Present situation and development countermeasures of minority language education}}</ref>

 

=== Graduation and further studies===

 

According to test scores, students enrol either in key high schools, ordinary high schools, secondary professional schools, secondary vocational schools, or directly enter society. Since this level of education is not compulsory, entering society is an option.

 

 

== Private education==

 

=== Internet ===

 

 

=== Private education===

 

In mainland China training courses are generally divided into:

 

== Dispute==

 

=== Expansion of compulsory education===

 

 

 

 

=== Exam-oriented education===

 

=== Farmers' children's education===

 

 

 

== References==

<references />

[[Category:Education in China]]

[[Category:Compulsory education]]