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Posts: 1

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Q: foreigners and public schools

Can foreign children be enrolled in Chinese government schools or kindergartens? If yes, what are the conditions?
thanks in advance

5 years 51 weeks ago in  Family & Kids - China

 
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Shifu

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Regardless I wouldn't recommend putting your kid through public education if you can afford an international school instead. Public schools are garbage (harsh but true).

 

By public schools I mean 一小, 二小, 三小, etc... which are local district schools. Schools such as 'experimental' or 'foreign languages' are not public but semi-public. The later cost RMB 10-15k per semester and will accept Foreigners.

ironman510:

Man, you are totally off. I'll handle this, step aside.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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RandomGuy:

So presumptuous, and yet it looks like people disagree.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Never listen to this guy as he's not raising kids here. Try to compare his answer to mine my answer is the last one below. This guy just likes to talk because he likes to hear himself or read about himself since we're talking about stuff on the internet

5 years 45 weeks ago
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RandomGuy:

Only some stupid twat would choose to raise kids in China given other options like going back to their home country anyway.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Parents that actually be parents raise perfect kids, my Chinese wife walked 1 hour back and forth to home everyday to finish primary school because her father who was a ordinary farmer pushed her to reach new goals on a very under developed Island of Hainan 30 years ago and now she's a director for an American company.. I don't even need to go beyond that point, now do I ? No I don't, the logic is simple we can all reach amazing goals no matter where we are raised if the parents actually be parents. Obviously your parents failed to teach a lot.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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RandomGuy:

Irrelevant to your ability as a parent, raising children in China means exposing them to toxic levels of air pollution and pollution in general, just because the sky is blue doesn't mean that there is no pollution. Your children are eating greens with high concentrations of cadmium rejected from factories into the rivers and soils, which as a chemical can cross the brain barrier and lead to all sorts of complications in the long run. The sheer insanity of society is extremely unhealthy for a young child, the constant noise and nonsensical behavior of people is not what I would like my child to be exposed to. Etc... Exposing children to all this when you have the opportunity not to (incredibly easy as a foreigner) should be considered a crime. Have fun when your child develops mental issues or develops a cancer at 30 years old. There are good reasons why many Chinese want out given the opportunity.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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ironman510:

RandomGuy, you're rambling on about science & risks, you can't play God or a so called Thanos with a touch of science added too him.. China has too many people because most live to an old age.. You can have your opinion and concerns or advice to others but you can't say everyone will be a failure because they enter a public school in China, you can't say that.. I've been here much longer than you and seen a lot of these kids do amazing things and more..

5 years 44 weeks ago
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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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I don't know much about the conditions and if it's possible or not  but....can your child speak Chinese?

 

Because if not it would probably be a terrible experience for him / her.

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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
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Some schools offer placement for foreigner kids. They need to be fullynfluent in speaking reading and writing and achieve high test scores. I know a Chinese-American boy and a South Korean girl who do this. Places are (quite) limited and competition is high.

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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
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They will be bullied by other students, staff and teachers. Think very carefully this

ironman510:

Come on man be a little positive, my kids look nothing like my Chinese wife but 95% of me and for 9 years my 11 year old son has been in China kindergarten and gov schools has been no problem but yet a great experience, moving on to Junior school.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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Hotwater:

Any proof of this accusation or just projecting your personal biases?

5 years 44 weeks ago
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ScotsAlan:

Bullshit. My worry is my daughter being a bully. Total bullcrap bullshit.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1095

Shifu

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Regardless I wouldn't recommend putting your kid through public education if you can afford an international school instead. Public schools are garbage (harsh but true).

 

By public schools I mean 一小, 二小, 三小, etc... which are local district schools. Schools such as 'experimental' or 'foreign languages' are not public but semi-public. The later cost RMB 10-15k per semester and will accept Foreigners.

ironman510:

Man, you are totally off. I'll handle this, step aside.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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RandomGuy:

So presumptuous, and yet it looks like people disagree.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Never listen to this guy as he's not raising kids here. Try to compare his answer to mine my answer is the last one below. This guy just likes to talk because he likes to hear himself or read about himself since we're talking about stuff on the internet

5 years 45 weeks ago
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RandomGuy:

Only some stupid twat would choose to raise kids in China given other options like going back to their home country anyway.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Parents that actually be parents raise perfect kids, my Chinese wife walked 1 hour back and forth to home everyday to finish primary school because her father who was a ordinary farmer pushed her to reach new goals on a very under developed Island of Hainan 30 years ago and now she's a director for an American company.. I don't even need to go beyond that point, now do I ? No I don't, the logic is simple we can all reach amazing goals no matter where we are raised if the parents actually be parents. Obviously your parents failed to teach a lot.

5 years 44 weeks ago
Report Abuse

RandomGuy:

Irrelevant to your ability as a parent, raising children in China means exposing them to toxic levels of air pollution and pollution in general, just because the sky is blue doesn't mean that there is no pollution. Your children are eating greens with high concentrations of cadmium rejected from factories into the rivers and soils, which as a chemical can cross the brain barrier and lead to all sorts of complications in the long run. The sheer insanity of society is extremely unhealthy for a young child, the constant noise and nonsensical behavior of people is not what I would like my child to be exposed to. Etc... Exposing children to all this when you have the opportunity not to (incredibly easy as a foreigner) should be considered a crime. Have fun when your child develops mental issues or develops a cancer at 30 years old. There are good reasons why many Chinese want out given the opportunity.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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ironman510:

RandomGuy, you're rambling on about science & risks, you can't play God or a so called Thanos with a touch of science added too him.. China has too many people because most live to an old age.. You can have your opinion and concerns or advice to others but you can't say everyone will be a failure because they enter a public school in China, you can't say that.. I've been here much longer than you and seen a lot of these kids do amazing things and more..

5 years 44 weeks ago
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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
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Hi Sara.

First, listen to no one who doesn't have kids and that are and have been raising them in China. My 2 kids in Shenzhen have been in Chinese kindergarten, was great, now 1st grade and 7th grade, but in our local public school.

Now I'll through "what you" need:

1. You'll need a work visa or the ability to get a working visa. Can't do it on a Q visa or Business (M) Visa. Should point out that being married to a Chinese won't get your kid into school if the kid doesn't have a Hukou. Not saying your spouse is Chinese just throwing that out there.

2. Next, if you do have a working visa, than ask your employer for a company tax certificate, a letter stamped and signed that you work for that company.

3. You'll need to go to your local PSB and print out x2 copies of your temporary residence form, also your kids and prepare 2x2 photos. Make a few copies of your visa and kids.

4. Locate the Educational Bureau, you should do this in June or December, hand over the docs, bring a Chinese friend to help you fill out a few forms. If all docs are accepted than they'll assign your kid to a school based on where you live. Basically the local school that handles your area. You'll only have to pay book and lunch fees and a few small things like texting over homework assignments by cell phone.

5. Be a parent, schools are not garbage as these other guys say, no, you just need to review, help your children with their weaknesses in school, some things are easier than others..

A few other points:

If your kid has never studied Chinese before than prepare tutoring classes and kids catch on fast. But it won't be easy and it's either made or failed by grade 3 because they have jumped 2 years ahead of American grades.

Now another way to get your kid into school is to work for a local agency the provides foreign teachers to public schools and your condition is that your kid gets to study in that school you'll be working at. Salary sucks but your kids in school.

No matter what school your kid goes to, it's a school, a parent makes it work with the help of teachers & kids, please don't listen to anyone who puts down these schools because you can make it work by being a parent, if this your only choice than make it work and review the classes

Good luck Sara.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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icnif77:

Great reply!

 

It looks, 'up'/'down' vote counter is broken. I came up to no. +15.

 

You deserve it! 

5 years 51 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Thanks, I went through hell getting my kids into school it wasn't easy

5 years 51 weeks ago
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ironman510:

Due to the new law that came out 2 months ago my information here is no longer accurate different cities might have different laws but from what I read about this is Nationwide and please see my updated information below at the bottom. Feel free to ask any questions I can help you out to the best of my knowledge as I'm going through all of this with my own kids in China

5 years 45 weeks ago
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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1059

Shifu

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my  boy is in a Chinese kindergarten he does not get bullied,he speaks Chinese has friends,he is half Chinese though.

 

we could not afford an international kindergarten or school bloody expensive

ironman510:

Don't feel bad man, no one should pay those prices for international school, even if I could afford it I wouldn't send my kids there. I actually prefer strict school's

5 years 51 weeks ago
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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
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Sara, are you in a first tier city? If not, talk to parents in 2nd and 3rd tier cities. 

 

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5 years 51 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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My husband and i decide that no school for our kids.

 

Kids are the happiest when they don't go to school.They can also learn deepest and fullest without exams and being pushed.

 

School is just a place to get kids to be employees.

 

It's prison.

 

We are both geniuses who are very well educated and hate schools. So why make our kids suffer?

 

Kids should do whatever they wanna do and start doing them young.

ScotsAlan:

I understand your point Spongebob. And I do agree with you sort of, but not totally. If you have a trustfund, then what the hell, they will never have to work anyway. If you homeschool for religious reasons... I dont agree.

5 years 51 weeks ago
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Ironmans answer was spot on. But be prepard to pay a bribe. It cost me 50k rmb to get my chinese daughter into the Government school system. Even though every single document was in order and it is illegal to ask for bribes. Their reasoning was that a foreigner can pay. Its a good school though. Just hope the teacher enjoyed his CNY in Thailand that I paid for. If it filtered down to him I have no problem. Excellent teacher. But I suspect it went towards the headmasters BMW.

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Foreign students can be enrolled and most of the time they are treated much better because the Chinese people love and enjoy the prestige of other ethnicities. I had one student from Romania in an all Chinese class and she excelled quite easily. The disadvantage of local/government based educational facilities for foreigners is the language barrier. Children should have a good grasp of Mandarin before entering government based schools because everything is conducted in Mandarin. Non-Chinese speakers are usually set back several years which would be at the first or second grade level. Local schools in China have class sizes that range from 20-30 students. The registration procedures must be handled in Chinese in whichever authorized local school the parents choose from. In order to register, a parent or guardian will need the child’s passport, a Chinese-issued health form, a work permit and the residence permit with them. I hope this helps. Best~

ironman510:

Elizabeth Police talk about things when you actually know what you're talking about. There was a new law passed: foreign kids with foreign passports will no longer be allowed to enter public schools and also they will no longer give certificates or diplomas, meaning graduation certificates so it's useless to go to Chinese public schools now.. how do I know because I have two kids in China One with a foreign passport he was in a public school and he was kicked out with all the other foreign kids recently. Anyone who has the money for International School wouldn't even be on a site like this.

5 years 45 weeks ago
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I am going to explain the updated information for May 2018. I want to express again that now kids cannot get graduation to certificates in Chinese Public Schools if they hold a foreign passport sure they can study there but they cannot get a Graduation certificate to proved that they actually studied and you would need that back in your home country, come on guys think things think logically in advance..

Now what you need to do is search for "Min~Ban:民办 " schools... 民办 means "private" in the school's you will find them slightly affordable tuition fees the school will be bilingual, the fees will rang from 12,000 to 25,000 RMB a semester.

but I want to stress this is only for Primary School up to elementary school the problem will come when it's time to go to high school. Because in China you need to get a score after Elementary School that gets you into a high school based on that score. Yes there are a few 民办 High schools but the fees will be 35,000 to 70,000 RMB per semester, every city will be different but you can trust me because I've already searched if you don't believe me I'll take you to the school's myself. You guys think we don't plan for this stuff in advance give us some freaking credit. I'm one of the few people here that can actually give you realistic information...

I want to stress one more time that this is not a good place for kids to study anymore because you'll be paying a lot of money and there's nothing you can do After High School unless you make a lot of money. You'll also come to the same problem that I'm thinking 6 years in advance about if you were to throw your kid into high school and an English-speaking country do you honestly think he can open up a science book and completely comprehend what it talks about? Think about that it don't care what kind of parent you are or how good you are there's only so much you can do if you let your kids study in China if they hold a foreign passport. Things are changing it's not easy anymore if your kids have a Chinese citizenship you should keep it and change it before they're 18.

on a personal note I think public schools are fine and provide a lot of good exercises for kids going to school it's more of a ply and memorize technique but it does have its benefits and I do like the discipline.

ScotsAlan:

This is one of the reasons why, 6 years ago, I chose Chinese nationality for our daughter. My wife wanted Brit. I stood my ground and said Chinese. I got a smile from the hospital registrar for that. And I got a lot of shit for that decision on these forums. I stand firm that I made the right decision.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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ScotsAlan:

And yup. The government Kintergarten our daughter goes to is superb. She had her interview last week for the connected primary school she starts in September. Also a superb Government School. A moderate bribe, as all Chinese parents have to pay, lets call it a donation, is fuck all compared to the fees for fake international schools.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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Ironman.. suberb info... do you have a link to the new rules... in Chinese is better.

ironman510:

Thanks man, you and I have been rolling with the changes of China, it never stops.

5 years 44 weeks ago
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A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77