Schooling in China

Abstract

This chapter traces the historical roots of Chinese schooling and offers an overview of contemporary educational development in China, with a particular focus on prominent policy initiatives and challenges ahead. Government schooling was rebuilt during the Sui Dynasty and flourished during the Tang Dynasty. The Tang period being one of progress and stability saw the Chinese empire flourish. As for regional government schooling, the Ming Dynasty inherited those from the preceding Yuan Dynasty, with schools at various levels offering medical, yin and yang and martial arts education, as well as a widespread Shexue system in rural areas. While many tend to agree that Chinese schooling faces serious challenges, few are able to accurately diagnose its illness. A deeper problem is that a Western-styled school system has only been taken for its practicality. At the centre of governance reform is the school-government relationship.