By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: What do you think is the purpose of the education in China?
As I know there are many foreign teachers in this Country like myself, what do you think is the goal of the education in the kindergartens and schools in China? Or better asked: is there any meaningful purpose of such education? If no, why? If yes, what?
11 years 16 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
To make money, of course! I've seen little to no altruism in public schools or training centers.
The main 'purpose' in any kindergarten isn't to educate much at all. The main idea is to get the children used to the idea of being away from their parents, and to learn how to learn. Trouble is both here (China) and in the UK, too many parents see kindergartens as a babysitting service to allow them to go to work.
In primary school, the purpose here is to institutionalize the children into the ways and mores of the country. It can appear a bit militaristic at times and it is a far cry from the doting, cradle-like atmosphere of American primary school, particularly the lower grades. Children here are given homework, and goodly amounts of it, beginning in Grade 1; play time is reduced to strict minimum, etc., etc.
One of the tenants of the New China was to eradicate illiteracy and while there are still functional literacy, considering the situation prior to 1949 and considering the situation today, it is obvious what progress has been made.
Western-style "creative" thinking is not encouraged; learning can be much more rote and is often heavily focused on the maths and sciences (and English) as a way to push the country ahead.
To kill childrens natural curiosity. No one wants people to grow up and ask questions that could have moderately uncomfortable answers.
What is the purpose of Chinese public school? Having worked in the public school system for a number of years--1 year primary school, 1 year middle school and 2 1/2 years high school--my best guess is that they are trying to create a nation of middle managers and lab assistants. They don't really have much of an understanding of what they might be trying to learn or do, but they are really are the best in the world when it comes to mindlessly following the directions of those in charge or in filling out reams of meaningless paperwork and moving it from the in box to the out box.
xinyuren:
Bingo! This is one of the things that must change if China is to progress as a great nation. They need to stop creating drones and start creating thinkers and innovators.
I am often flabbergasted when I speak to Chinese college students. Upon graduation they have no idea what they want to do with their life. They seem ill prepared to make career decisions and only seem to desire an easy job with little responsibility. No goals, no dreams, they just want to get a job so they can send money to their family. I asked them why they chose their particular major. The usual answer is because they think it is easy or their parents chose it. Many don't even have the desire to think for themselves.
derek:
...and this is a "country wide phenomenon". Sad but true. Your words echo my experiences exactly. The bigger problem is that it is totally acceptable by pretty much everyone.
Scandinavian:
no need to think about what you want to do, you will get a job in a company where one of your parents good friend works, it doesn't seem to be important what your major was
