School education in China and interesting facts about it. Schools in China: features of the school system of education

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Being Chinese is not easy. When there are more than one and a half billion of you in a country without social guarantees, you have to work hard to find a place in the sun. But Chinese children are ready for this - their hard work starts from the first grade.

At one time, I worked as an English teacher in four Chinese schools (and a kung fu school). Therefore, it is very interesting to compare Russian education and features of the schools of the Middle Kingdom.

Children in school uniform―tracksuits―in class, dedicated to the Day Earth, Liaocheng, April 2016.

Many schools in China do not have heating, so teachers and students do not take off their coats in winter. Central heating is available exclusively in the north of the country. In the center and south of China, buildings are designed for a warm climate. This means that in winter, when the temperature can drop to zero, and sometimes even lower, air conditioners are the only means of heating. The school uniform is a sports suit: wide trousers and a jacket. The cut is almost the same everywhere, only the colors of the suit and the school emblem on the chest differ. All school grounds are limited by large iron gates, which are always kept closed, opening only so that students can go out.
In Chinese schools, they do exercises every day (and not just one) and hold a general line. The morning at school begins with exercises, then a ruler, on which they report the main news and raise the flag - school or state. After the third lesson, all children do eye relaxation exercises. To soothing music and the voice of the announcer in the recording, students click on special points. In addition to morning exercises, there is daytime exercises - at about two o'clock in the afternoon, when, under the same inexorable speaker, schoolchildren pour out into the corridor in a single impulse (if there is not enough space in the classrooms), begin to raise their hands to the sides and up and jump.

Chinese schoolchildren from the city of Jinan do exercises on the roof.

A big break, also known as a lunch break, usually lasts an hour. During this time, children have time to go to the canteen (if there is no canteen at the school, they are brought food in special trays-boxes), have lunch, and also run, stretch their legs, scream and play pranks. Teachers in all schools are fed lunch for free. And the food, I must say, is very good. Lunch traditionally consists of one meat and two vegetable dishes, rice and soup. In expensive schools, they also give fruit and yogurt. People in China love to eat, and even at school, traditions are observed. After the lunch break, some elementary schools are given five minutes "to sleep." By the way, a couple of times my students fell asleep in the middle of the lesson, and the poor things had to be woken up with a bleeding heart.

A variant of a modest school lunch by Chinese standards: eggs with tomatoes, tofu, cauliflower with pepper, rice.

The teachers are very respectful. They are referred to by their last names with the prefix "teacher", such as Master Zhang or Master Xiang. Or just "teacher". In one school, the students, whether mine or not, bowed to me when they met me.
In many schools, physical punishment is the order of the day. The teacher can hit the student with his hand or pointer for some offense. The farther from the big cities and the simpler the school, the more common it is. My Chinese friend told me that they were given a certain amount of time at school to learn English words. And for every unlearned word they were beaten with a stick.

Break during traditional drumming lessons, Ansai city.

The student's performance rating hangs in the classroom, which encourages students to study better. Grades are from A to F, where A is the highest, corresponds to 90–100%, and F is unsatisfactory 59%. Rewarding good behavior is an important part of the educational system. For example, for a correct answer or exemplary behavior in a lesson, a student receives an asterisk of a certain color or additional points. Points and stars are removed for talking in class or misconduct. The progress of schoolchildren is reflected on a special chart on the board. Competition, so to speak, is evident.
Chinese children study for more than 10 hours every day. Lessons usually last from eight in the morning until three or four in the afternoon, after which the children go home and do endless homework until nine or ten in the evening. On weekends, schoolchildren from big cities always have some additional classes with tutors, they go to music, art schools and sports clubs. In view of the highest competition on children from childhood, there is pressure from their parents. If they fail to do well in the exam after elementary school (compulsory education in China takes 12-13 years), then they are barred from going to university.

On September 1, first-graders of the Confucius School in Nanjing take part in the ceremony of writing the character "ren" ("man"), which begins their education.

Schools are divided into public and private. Tuition in private schools can reach up to a thousand dollars a month. Their level of education is many times higher. Particular importance is attached to the study of a foreign language. 2-3 English lessons a day, and by the 5th-6th grade, students in elite schools are already fluent in English. However, for example, in Shanghai there is a special state program, paid by the government, under which foreign teachers teach in ordinary, public schools.
The education system is based on rote memorization. Children just memorize great amount material. Teachers demand automatic playback, not particularly caring about how understandable the learned material is. But now alternative learning systems are gaining more and more popularity: Montessori or Waldorf, aimed at developing children's creative abilities. Of course, such schools are private, education in them is expensive and accessible to a very small number of people.
Children from poor families who do not want to learn or are too naughty (according to their parents) are often taken away from a general education institution and sent to kung fu schools. There they live full board, train from morning till night and, if they're lucky, receive a basic primary education: they must be able to read and write, which, given the Chinese language system, is very difficult. In such institutions, physical punishment is in the order of things.

They are taught from childhood that they must be the best, no matter what. Perhaps that is why the Chinese are now beginning to occupy leading positions in all branches of science, culture and art. Competing with Europeans who grew up in more greenhouse conditions, they often do not leave them a chance. Simply because we are not used to studying for ten hours in a row. Every day. All year round.

Benefits of Secondary Education in China

Secondary education in China today is deservedly considered the best in the world. It is enough to look at the results of the international PISA rating, which has been organized since 2000 and held by the OECD every 3 years. The rapidly increasing lead of Chinese students is more than impressive: in the year they scored 556 overall and 600 in math (493 and 496 on the OECD average), and in the year already 613 in math (494 on the OECD average). Such a Chinese "miracle" is explained by the wise policy of the Chinese government in the field of education and the extremely high degree of motivation of Chinese schoolchildren, who consider academic success today as a guarantee of a prosperous life in the future.

The Chinese government has set itself the goal of transforming the country from an agrarian semi-literate country into a super-tech power in 20 years, for which it adopted a plan to modernize the education system. This plan is based on the symbiosis of Western teaching methods and traditional Chinese, on the promotion of Chinese universities in world rankings, and is aimed at turning Chinese education from a recipient into a donor. This plan proved to be correct and very effective. If in 2001, according to the data of the Ministry of Education of China, the number of foreigners studying in Chinese universities was only 60 thousand people, then in 2012 it has grown to 328.3 thousand. At this pace, China will soon compete with the traditional leader in attracting foreign students - the United States (the number of foreign students is 764.5 thousand). By 2020, China should become the largest educational center in Asia, increasing the number of foreign students to 500,000. And he has already left Russia behind: 224 thousand foreign students, and if we take away those who came from Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Abkhazia, then only 100 thousand will remain. Not surprisingly, significant government investments in education in China are quickly paying off: income from the sale of educational services has already reached $ 1 billion, which is 2 times more than Russia's income.

5. Matura is recognized worldwide and guarantees direct admission to Western universities.

6. excellent sports infrastructure and comfortable living conditions

7. Inexpensive compared to UK, Switzerland, USA and Canada prices

8. children find themselves in an environment of peers motivated to study

Boarding schools in China

School name	City	Training program	Cost, EUR/year	Language of instruction	Notes	A photo
Harrow International School Beijing			English (ESL)	6-12 grades
Harrow International School Shanghai			English (ESL)	6-12 grades School network: London, Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Hong Kong
Beijing Huijia Private School			English (ESL) Chinese (preparatory course)	1-12 grades Focus on technology in agriculture
Keystone Academy			English (ESL) Chinese (preparatory course)	8-12 grades
Yew Chung Shanghai International School			English	1-12 grades Yew Chung Foundation School Network: Hong Kong, Beijing, Qingdao, Chongqing and Silicon Valley, USA
Canadian International School of Beijing			English (Chinese)	1-12 grades
Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School			English (Chinese)
Canadian International School Kunshan			English	1-12 grades Affiliated with St. John's Kilmarnock School (SJK), Ontario (Canada)
Beijing Shuren Private School		Guangzhou Guangdong			English (Chinese)	6-12 grades In 2014, the college received 16 out of 20 possible scores from the first Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and was named an excellent educational institution ("Excellent"). Best International School of the Year in 2011 (Independent School Awards)
Guangzhou Huamei International School	suburb Guangzhou Guangdong	China Canada (Ontario)		Chinese English	1-12 grades 1st place among private boarding schools South China
Beijing New Talent Academy			English (Chinese)	1-12 grades
Beijing National Day School			English (Chinese)	6-12 grades
Guangdong Country Garden School	beijiao Shunde Foshan Guangdong			English Chinese	1-12 grades Every third graduate is in the top 50 best universities peace The best school in Guangdong
Shanghai Gold Apple Bilingual School			English	1-12 grades
Fudan International School			English	7-12 grades School at one of the best Chinese universities - Fudan University
Beijing International Bilingual Academy			English Chinese
Beijing No. 55 high school			English	6-12 grades
Beijing Concord College of Sino-Canada				English Chinese	1-12 grades
Beijing No. 04 High school			Chinese English
Dulwich College Suzhou	Suzhou Jiangsu			English (ESL) (Chinese)	1-12 grades Dulwich College International (DCI) network in 8 cities and 5 countries (colleges in London, two campuses in Shanghai - Jinqiao and Minhang, in Beijing, Suzhou, Seoul, Singapore and Yangon, 2 international high schools in Suzhou and Zhuhai
High School Affiliated To Nanjing Normal University	Nanking Jiangsu			English	State. school at Nanjing Normal University (NSFZ) 1 of 10 exemplary schools in China Ranking of 2016 Chinese schools by the number of graduates enrolled in US universities: 22nd place
Shanghai Jin Cai High School			English (ESL)	1-12 grades In the Botanical Park
Wellington College Shanghai			English	7-12 grades
Wellington College International Tianjin			English	1-12 grades Partnership with Wellington College, Eagle House, The Wellington Academy (UK)
Wuxi United International School	sidong wuxi Jiangsu			English (Chinese)	1-12 grades
Alcanta International College	Guangzhou Guangdong			English	9-12 grades
Beijing Haidian International School			English	1-12 grades The school is located in the nature protection zone of the reserve
Oxford International College of Chengdu	Chengdu Sichuan			English	9-12 grades Admission to the Top 10 British universities or the top 40 universities in the world
Saint Paul American School

Despite the fact that China is the birthplace of famous philosophers and great inventions, the low level of education of the population for many centuries has been a global problem for the country, slowing down the pace of its development. Until the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, 80% of the population was illiterate, to the point that people could not read and write.

The new government faced the task of minimizing this percentage, so the authorities began to pay great attention to the development of the education system in the country. Thanks to numerous reforms and an increase in the general standard of living, by 2008 the percentage of the illiterate population had decreased to 3.58%, which indicates an effective policy in this area.

Education system in China

According to the PRC constitution, every citizen has the right to receive a compulsory nine-year education, and laws are issued annually to guarantee the implementation of this right among vulnerable segments of the population such as representatives minorities, children, women and people with disabilities. Education in China is a public system administered by the PRC Ministry of Education. The modern education system in China consists of 4 levels: primary, junior (junior), secondary and higher.

Primary Education (Chinese Schools)

Primary education in China is compulsory, studying at school for 6 years. Children start going to school at the age of 6-7 years. Education is conducted in the generally accepted Chinese dialect Putonghua, with the exception of those schools where children from minority groups study, in which case the teachers speak the local dialect. The standard academic year is divided into two semesters, classes last from September to July, 5 days a week. The list of required items includes:

Chinese,
Mathematics,
Social science,
Nature,
ideological education,
Physical culture, music,
Painting,
Work.

Foreign language usually goes elective course. In order to complete this level, all students must pass an exam in Chinese and mathematics.

Secondary education

Junior (preparatory) secondary education lasts 3 years and ends with a mandatory nine-year (6 + 3) education. At this stage, chemistry, physics, a foreign language and political science are added to the list of subjects studied. At the end of the course, you must pass the standards physical training and get satisfactory marks in all exams.

Students who choose to pursue their secondary education in China can continue their general academic studies through high school or go to a vocational school or college to gain the necessary skills for their future jobs. During their studies in high school, students are preparing to pass the final state exams, an analogue of the Unified State Examination in Russia, according to the results of which they will enter universities.

Higher education

Get higher education in China, you can enroll in any higher education institution, regardless of their form of organization or specialization. Enrollment in a university is carried out on the basis of the results of the state final exam or additional tests conducted by a separate university.

Students with outstanding academic achievement in high school may be recommended for admission by local authorities without taking exams. AT recent times private universities are gaining popularity, which accept students for paid education without any entrance exams. The cost of education in private universities is much higher than in public ones. In large cities, the cost of a year of study can reach up to a million rubles.

Despite the fact that only 9 classes are compulsory, all students continue their education and prepare very diligently for entering universities, since higher education is a necessary requirement for further employment. China is a densely populated country, so there is serious competition among applicants, as everyone understands that quality education is the key to a successful future.

Education education is different. The long-standing dispute in Russia between Russian educators and the Ministry of Education about the usefulness of ongoing educational reforms in our schools has no end in sight. It turns out we're not the only ones. The Chinese are also not entirely satisfied with their secondary education system. Therefore, the planned tendency to send children to study “over the hill”, as in Russia, is very popular. Chinese students constantly complain about the terrible amount homework, great stress, lack of free time, they want to avoid gaokao (final exam, an analogue of our Unified State Examination) and continue their education in the upper grades of "overseas" schools. After asking Chinese schoolchildren, as well as teachers, I received complete picture what system children study in Beijing and other cities, as well as what trend the education of China is currently moving in and how much effort children spend to get the coveted certificate.

So, I will not immediately start with the worst. To begin with, the Chinese school is divided into three levels - primary (6 years), secondary (6 years) and senior (3 years). “The first time in the first class” occurs at the age of 6-7 years. The state pays only for the first nine years of education, for the last three years, parents pay from their wallet, although some lucky students can count on a subsidy or scholarship.

As one Chinese friend told me, the whole life of a Chinese is the eternal passage of exams, and they begin precisely at school. One of the most serious tests falls on the head of an unsuspecting elementary school student at the end of the sixth grade. And here begins ... the search for ways to get into high school, and necessarily good or the best! No wonder six years in primary school listened to the teacher and unquestioningly carried out his tasks!

It should be clarified that the Chinese elementary, middle and high schools are not one school, as in Russia. They have different names and are different educational institutions. Although some schools include all three levels.

So, the race of parents (first of all) begins precisely at the end of elementary school. They are “on duty” at the door of the secondary school desired for their child, “catch” students who have already entered it, and “interrogate” on the subject of “how he entered it” and “the content of the entrance exam”. Admission exam. I was told that it was secret. This is one of the ways to enter the school. Secret, because it is impossible to prepare for it in advance, because the content is unknown. The exam can take many forms - it can be in the form of a test, or it can be in the form of an interview. If in the form of a test, then this is usually mathematics, tasks are given at a level higher than that studied before, so money for a tutor must be prepared in advance.

The next path to the desired school is a recommendation for admission. Teachers recommend, chooses a computer. O great lottery drum of good luck! Only one in ten applicants can be enrolled in a school in this way. There are also loopholes, but this is for those who do not skimp - after all, the future of children, how can you trust a soulless machine! So, next - the relationship of parents. Everything is clear here. Another way to get into the coveted school is automatic enrollment due to being close to home. To be enrolled, you must have an apartment near the school and have lived in it for more than three years. Parents participating in the "race" buy apartments near a prestigious school long before the birth of a child, caring about his future. And the last way to continue education - and every elementary school graduate is obliged to continue education in high school - the placement of a student in any school where there is a place, usually far from the best in the "Oh almighty computer, decide my fate" system. Strange but true.

So we found a way to get into good school, but this does not mean at all that you can relax and not think about anything (until the university). Middle, and further - high schools involve almost round-the-clock teaching, a lot of “homework” and a minimum of free time, since in addition to “homework” and lessons, children attend circles of interest * parents *, for example, learn English with foreign teachers, or dance do, or sports, or something else designed to make a child a highly organized, competitive personality, as we are talking about China - a country where the strongest survive due to the large number of people living in it. Parents understand this.

The schedule in an ordinary ordinary school is "Spartan" in nature - at least 8 - 9 lessons per day: five lessons in the first half of the day, four lessons in the second. Every day at the last lesson test a.k.a. test. I am writing this about the last year of high school, where children are being prepared for the high school exam. The big drawback of such tests, according to one of the schoolchildren whom I interviewed, is that in fact, when performing tests "on the machine", the student uses logic, and not really acquired knowledge. "Cramming" clean water. There is almost no smell of healthy interest in studying here. However, students maintain their enthusiasm for learning, fueled by teachers, and are optimistic about everything. According to one of the schoolgirls (Shandi Experimental Middle School, Part of 101 School, Beijing), friendship between classmates grows stronger as exams and homework increase. "Together we fight in the exams!" can be considered the motto of high school students, because it is here that the strongest friendship is born, which does not weaken even after graduation.

Education in China

Classes at school start around 8 am, in different schools in different ways: somewhere at 7:30, somewhere at 8:30. Each lesson lasts 40 minutes, between lessons there is a break, and after the second lesson there is a big break for physical education. Physical education lessons are held every day. And this is quite understandable, because with a great mental load, sports are simply necessary. True, not all schools have such a policy, some schools do not include sports in the school system. After physical education lessons, already fairly hungry children run to the canteen to spend 5-10 minutes “gobbling up” lunch, and quickly to classes. This is followed by the "midday dream", where the students, having folded their hands and "comfortably" lying down on the desk, must pretend to be asleep. This "dream" lasts an hour until 1:20. “Fall asleep” on a call and “wake up” on a call. With regard to appearance, quite strict rules have also been introduced, which everyone adheres to: short or ponytailed hair and a uniform school uniform for all students, usually a tracksuit. Each school has a different color uniform.

Every morning a person responsible for raising state flag, as an act of patriotism, which is very commendable. And schoolchildren also write essays on the now popular topic “Chinese Dream” (an analogue of the “American Dream”, Chinese version). Weekends are spent doing homework. Holidays in summer and winter. Summer - from mid or early July to the end of August, and winter - from mid-January to mid-February. And every vacation schoolchildren "bath" in the sea of homework. Caring parents manage to send some schoolchildren abroad to study for two weeks - to improve their English, or spend time traveling in China, which is also not bad, but not for long - you still need to return and have time to do your homework!

Things are a little different in high school. For example, at the Hai Dian Foreign Languages School, Beijing. To get into high school, you also need to pass an exam test, but it is more democratic and open compared to entering high school. They do not make any secret from the exam, which to a certain extent reduces stress for both schoolchildren and parents. This school is considered one of the fashionable schools because it is divided into two departments - the department of "gaokao" and the foreign department. In general, due to the continuing interest of the Chinese in foreign languages, there are more and more international departments in schools. Back in 2010, only 10 schools had such a division. A little more about the differences. In the gaokao department, schoolchildren study according to a well-known regime, that is, they are preparing for the most important exam in 12-year school education, which opens the way to universities and the door to the future. Gaokao is taken in all subjects at the end of the twelfth (and in some schools the eleventh) grade. And everyone is afraid of him - parents, students and even teachers. Points for each subject vary depending on its importance. For example, this year the passing score for the Chinese language exam is 180, last year it was only 150. But for English, on the contrary, it was reduced from 150 to 120. However, there is not much consolation. You still have to take exams. And schoolchildren studying at this department are “cramming”, preparing for tests. By the way, starting from the senior classes, there is a distribution of students, with an appropriate set of subjects.

The situation is quite different in the foreign department. Students are not prepared for gaokao. It is assumed that children will finish the 11th grade at an American school, and then they will enter one of the universities in America, it is now so fashionable in China to avoid the “hassle” with “stupefying” tests and go to get a “real” education abroad. Perhaps it is correct, if the parent means allow it. The neighbor's grass is always greener. Students avoid gaokao, but TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test a.k.a. Academic Assessment Test) are here to stay. This is necessary for an internship at an American school. “Life constantly arranges exams, distracting from the process of improving it” ... Most of the subjects are taught in English by foreign teachers. First of all, studying English language, studying is in progress - preparation for TOEFL, new words and expressions are being crammed. Some subjects are taught in Chinese - mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry - for the sake of the next exam from the city department of education - Certification of High School, everyone takes it, regardless of the department where the student is studying. There is something pleasant about studying at a foreign department - the tasks given by foreign teachers are much more creative and interesting: students work in groups, make and defend projects, spend time looking for information for a report, and so on. And there are fewer students in the class - not 40, as in a general education school, but only 25 - 27, as in an ordinary Western school. The school is the same, but the approach is different.

Now you need to write a little about how students live in a school boarding school. Many schools have student dormitories. In some schools, children live in a boarding school due to the remoteness of the school from home, and in some schools this is included in one of the rules. Different boarding schools have a different number of students per room - from 6 to 8, and maybe even more. At the School of Foreign Languages in Haidien District, Beijing, a room of 6 people has a shower and a toilet. Some boarding schools have showers and toilets per floor. They get up at the call at 6:30, return to the room at about 10 pm, after three to four hours of self-study and repetition in the classroom at the end of the lessons. Three meals a day in the school canteen is also included. It is forbidden to bring to the boarding school electronic devices, that is, all iPhones, iPads and computers are waiting for their owners at home, where the latter spend their weekends - the students return home on Friday evening, and on Sunday evening again to the hostel. Oh yes, and don't forget to wear the school uniform. And raise the flag.

In the provinces, the school system is the same - lessons begin at the same time, the same subjects. Differences, perhaps, only in possibilities. There are not many additional sections in the provinces where you can send your child, for example, studying languages, music, etc., therefore, in addition to studying, there is only study, unlike metropolitan dudes. In Beijing, and in other major cities in China, they try to give homework a little less, especially in primary school so that children have more free time to attend hobby groups. In addition, there is some inequality among applicants to universities - a Beijinger with a score of 500 points in gaokao has the opportunity to enter a good university in the capital, while a graduate of a school from Prov. Shandong, having scored the same 500 points, can only count on a technical school in Beijing. Geography is in place.

Teachers in schools are also very busy with work. According to one of the teachers at Shangdi Experimental Middle School, Beijing, the main challenge for a teacher is to find an appropriate approach to all students and evaluate based on their individual characteristics, since there are a lot of students in the class, sometimes the number reaches 48 - 50, it is not always possible to treat everyone individually. A lot of work falls on the lot of teachers - to check a huge number of "homework" and examination sheets with tests, take refresher courses, study scientific work, meet with parents of students, etc. And if the teacher was appointed as a class teacher, then all this falls on the poor in double volume. Therefore, teachers every day stay at school for another 2-3 hours - work takes them a lot of free time. But do not feel sorry for them ahead of time, they also have winter and summer vacation with which they compensate for the lack of free time on working days.

So, this is where the “legs grow” from the widespread judgment about the Chinese that they do not know how to think independently and are completely unable to approach the matter creatively - from the school education system, the Chinese themselves understand. Constant tests, tests, tests that deprive the student of independently solving the question, and not choosing the correct answer from 4 options. However, this "button accordion" will not exist for long. Positive shifts in school education have already been outlined, which are noted by both teachers and students themselves. Firstly, we slightly reduced the load on homework, it became a little less. Secondly, in view of the reduction in homework, the child is encouraged to attend circles that develop talents and abilities, such as: dancing, drawing, singing, music, learning foreign languages and others, as far as the parents' imagination and wallet allow. Thirdly, returning to the test system, positive things can also be found here: thanks to the tests, the students have a well-developed logic, and besides, the test system is very convenient for teachers during the control of the level of knowledge. Still, do not forget, 40 - 50 people in the class, and the lesson time is only 40 minutes. Fourth, the Chinese are actively adopting positive foreign experience. As mentioned earlier, a system of two departments is being introduced in high school. At the foreign department, lessons are taught by foreign teachers who focus on teamwork students, develop their creative skills, teamwork skills, as well as the ability not just to copy the material, but to independently conduct research. Pupils in the classroom speak, and not just listen, express their thoughts and opinions. Fifthly, in connection with the policy of reducing the birth rate, there are fewer students every year, which means that it is easier for the teacher to find an individual approach to each student, to focus on students, and not on books and assignments. Pupils also express their hope that the examination system, especially for secondary school entry, will be more democratic and open, and the assessment system more fair.

All these improvements, however, are not intended to "damp down" students. On the contrary, in connection with the emerging positive changes, students will have more opportunities for self-realization. You still have to work hard, because "you can't catch a fish without labor." We wish them good luck in this noble cause, and further success!

School education in China: the school year begins on the first of September. As for parents in China, some aspects of preparing a child for school are not so expensive. This primarily applies to school uniforms. All schools in China have uniforms that students must wear regardless of what grade they are in. A student's clothing usually consists of a shirt, trousers (skirt) and a baseball cap, on which the school emblem is embroidered. All other accessories, without which studying in Chinese schools cannot be complete, parents buy on their own.

Schools in China provide twelve years of education, which is divided into three levels: elementary school and two levels of high school. Every year on the first of September, more than 400 million students from the first to the twelfth grades come to school. Half of them are first-graders and students of the first stage of secondary school.

In order for a child to receive at least compulsory secondary education, he must have attended school for at least 9 years: 6 years in primary school and three years of lower secondary school. Obtaining a full education is carried out at the request of the parents and the student himself. To be able to continue your studies at a university, you must complete all twelve classes and pass the final exams. But more on that later.

In order for a child to be accepted into the first grade of a school in China, like in our country, they conduct some kind of exams to determine the level of knowledge of the child. But, if in our schools it is written work and interviews, then in Chinese it is testing. The future student should mark the correct answer to the question from the proposed 3-4 options. After receiving primary education after six years of study, schoolchildren take their first exams. This kind of slice of knowledge allows the child to score the required number of points for admission to high school. The high results of these exams allow the student to go to the secondary school at the university, the completion of which guarantees admission to this university.

Chinese schools conduct unified state final exams, which are also entrance exams for entering a university. As mentioned earlier in the article on the Chinese educational system, all higher education institutions are ranked by the level of prestige, and in order to enter, you need to score a certain number of points in school exams. The application can be sent to several educational institutions whose passing score is lower or corresponds to the number of points that was scored during the exams.

It will not be superfluous to note that universities and schools in China differ from our educational institutions in a large level of workload. This is due to the fact that students must learn more than several thousand characters, which must not only be written correctly, but also pronounced correctly. With this in mind, the Department of Education in Beijing has adopted a regulation according to which school starts at 8 am and lasts no more than eight hours a day. At the same time, the curriculum increased the number of physical education lessons to 70 minutes per week.

Many readers may have the impression that the above applies to private schools. But I want to clarify right away that such an educational system is used in public schools.

Schools in China operate on the principle of a five-day work week. But if in our schools first-graders study until a maximum of 13 hours, then their Chinese "colleagues" are in an educational institution until 16 in the afternoon. Due to the heavy workload, the school day is divided into two parts. From 8 to half past twelve, children study the main subjects: Chinese and foreign languages, mathematics, which are in the schedule every day. Then, until 2 pm, children can relax and have lunch, and then continue their studies. In the afternoon, students in Chinese schools study secondary subjects: singing, work, physical education and drawing.

Chinese schools are special in that each class has an average of 30-40 students. The learning process is divided into two semesters, the results of which are displayed in the report card. It is worth mentioning that the assessment of the achievements of children during their studies is carried out according to a hundred-point system. All current results are posted in a classroom journal and parents, if desired, can monitor the progress of their children.

A big plus in the Chinese educational system is that the educational process is carefully controlled by the government, and schools constantly receive funding from the treasury for the current repair of buildings or the renewal of the material and technical base.