Education FAQs

China has the largest education system in the world. In June 2018 there were 9.39 million students taking the National Higher Education Entrance Examination in China. Investment in education accounts for about 4% of total GDP in China. In 1986, the Chinese government passed a compulsory education law ensuring nine years of mandatory education for all Chinese children. Today, the Ministry of Education estimates that 99% percent of the population area of the country has achieved universal nine-year basic education in China

The higher education sector has growth as well. China has increased the proportion of its college-age population in higher education to over 20 percent now from 1.4 percent in 1978. At the same time, China is improving the quality of education through a major effort at school curriculum reform.

China has a consistent teacher development system. Teaching has historically been and remains today a highly respected profession in China. Teachers have strong preparation in their subject matter and prospective teachers spend a great deal of time observing the classrooms of experienced teachers, often in schools attached to their universities. Once teachers are employed in school, there is a system of induction and continuous professional development in which groups of teachers work together with master teachers on lesson plans and improvement.