The+Chinese+School+System


 * The Chinese School System **

The Chinese School System is similar to the American School System. However, the systems are very different from each other in many ways. The Chinese schools are divided into four groups, much like the American schools. That is, primary schools, middle or Jr. schools, high schools, and colleges.
 * The primary school is Kindergarden through the 6th grades. The children are in Kindergarden from 3 to 6 years old, and must pay a fee to attend. They will enter 1st grade at 6 years old and should be around 11-12 years old as they finish the 6th grade. The students do not pay to attend. There is a graduation ceremony at the end of 6th grade.
 * The middle school consist of 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. This would cover ages 12 to 14. These students do not have to pay for classes. However, there is an option that students can choose to live on the school campus during the week, (they all go home on the weekends). In this case there is a fee for room and board. Unlike the American schools, (which continue through the 12th grade), in China, 9th grade is the last grade that is required. There is a graduation ceremony at the end of 9th grade.
 * The high school grades, (which are optional), are 10th, 11th, and 12th. The ages are 15 to 17, (or they might start a year or two later). Students must pass an entrance exam to be admitted. The students live on the school campus, much as college students in America, except that they go home every weekend. They pay a fee for room and board. In addition, tuition and fees must be paid for by the student's resources or by scholarship. Like the American schools, the Chinese high schools offer two tracks: (1) College track is composed of coursework for the students who are college bound. This is so that requirements for entering college can be met; (2) Vocational track is structured for the student who is seeking a vocational trade. This is for the student who will enter the job force immediately after high school. There will be a graduation ceremony at the end of 12th grade.
 * College is structured much like those in America. The students must take an entrance exam to be admitted. The students live on the campus, and tuition is paid by the student's resources or by scholarship. The degree requirements are much like America's: Bachelor degree is a four year program; Masters is three years; and PhD is two years.

In China, the instructors have less freedom than the American instructors to choose their curriculum and material. The Chinese class sizes are enormous as compared to American classes. In America, they would like to keep the class sizes as low as 24 in the primary schools, and between 28 to 30 in the middle and high schools. Chinese class sizes are as high as 50 in the primary classes, and 60 per class in the middle schools and high schools. The population in each school is also much greater than the American schools, such as China's # 47 that has 8000 students. WOW! But that is very understandable given the size of the overall population in China. Notice also that the schools are named by number. Whereas in America, schools are named after people, places, things or events such as Washington or Edison, or Apollo, (the spacecraft). Physical Education is given more importance in China, with as many as 1000 students out participating at one time. What an awesome sight that must be! Like America, China also has private schools that parents can choose to pay for their child to attend. Or they may attend the public school, and then take private lessons such as English classes, after the regular school day.