Chinese History and Statistics -- Page 15

Education

Major changes have occurred in China's educational system since 1949. During the 1950s and early 1960s educational policy was directed toward producing college and secondary school graduates who were politically reliable and technically qualified. Students were required to spend half of their school hours on academic subjects and the other half learning practical skills in factories and fields.

The Cultural Revolution redirected educational policy. Revolutionary committees were formed to run the schools, and for the next 11 years the emphasis was on political indoctrination in revolutionary ideology. Under the "open door" policy, workers, peasants, and soldiers were invited to lecture in universities, and university students were required to work for specified periods on farms and in factories. The traditional university entrance examinations were abolished, and students were selected on the basis of work performance and party loyalty.

In 1977 the educational policies of the Cultural Revolution were abandoned. Entrance examinations were reintroduced and tuition for higher education was were sent to study in colleges and universities in Western Europe, Japan, and the United States, although the government in 1988 announced plans to reduce the number of students sent abroad. Efforts have been made to extend the years of schooling to 10 in urban areas and 9 in rural areas (5 years at the elementary level and 4 to 5 years of secondary school). In 1986, 96% of school-age children were enrolled in schools.