Learning From China… The Sixth in a Series of Studies of Education in Other Countries

Why China? Emergence as an Economic Powerhouse Competitive High School System Producing Large Numbers of Well- Schooled Young People Existing Ties Between NC & China

A Word About China Population Rush to Modernize Vibrant Urban Centers Centralized Government Stark Divides

Drive for Universal Education Began in 1949 Tradition of Valuing Education Cultural Evolution Set Education Drive Back for a Decade Today’s System Essentially Created Since the Late Seventies

Lessons Learned (Albeit with a Caveat)

A Lesson Learned Much Can Be Accomplished When a Country is Clear About its Goals & Vision for Education  Mathematics  Science  Foreign Language

A Lesson Learned Investing in Top Students Can Pay Large Dividends  “Key” Schools  Upper 5-10%  Pool of 90 Million HS Students (compared to 20 million US)

A Lesson Learned High Schools Have Clear Focus - Academic or Occupational/Technical  Technical High Schools Offer Cutting Edge Course Work  Focus on Application  Direct Link to Economic Needs

A Lesson Learned The Job of a Chinese Student is to Learn  Distractions Minimized (i.e., cars, sports, marriage)  200 Day School Year; Longer School Day  Some Residential Schools

A Lesson Learned High Expectations Begin at Elementary Level  High Expectations  Achievement Honored  Rigor Early – Math, Science

A Lesson Learned Cultural Difference Evident  Obesity, Exercise, Regimen  Large Class Size  Respect/Discipline

A Lesson Learned Teaching is Valued/Respected  Focus on Staff Development (240 Hours Per Year)  Time During the Day  Pay/Levels of teaching  Constant Focus on Honing Teaching Skills  Rewards

A Lesson Learned Schools Have an International Focus  Foreign Languages  Exchange Teachers/Programs

All that Glitters is not Gold… Challenges Facing China’s Schools

Challenges Two Sides of Meritocracy Coin Tuition Becoming Commonplace Limited Options for Higher Education (4 million seats; 9 million applicants) Pressure from Competition A Yawning Education Opportunity Gap

Challenges Aside… It is remarkable to See the Educational Foundation China Has Created in Less Than 30 Years  300,000 college grads majored in engineering or technology – last year alone  More Chinese took the SAT in English last year in China than there were U.S. Students taking it.

Recap… 1)Clear Goals & Vision for Education 2)Goals Reflect Ambitions to Be a World Leader 3)High Expectations 4)Importance of Teachers is Recognized