Ask anyone who has ever worked as an English teacher in China, and they’ll tell you that the differences between the Chinese and Western education models are vast. Working in a Chinese office can be a shock to the system if you’re more used to Western work practices, and this is also attributable to China’s method of education. Generally favouring rote learning and collective opinion over independent thought and the “thinking outside the box” mentality that is espoused by the West, Chinese education is – unsurprisingly – far more “socialist” than its counterparts in Europe and North America.

The biggest differences

But picking apart China’s education system and holding it up for criticism is an easy stance to take. It is more interesting to examine the differences objectively.
The most visible difference has already been mentioned: learning facts by heart. While Western education systems push for lateral thinking as well as rote memorization, Chinese teachers favour repetition. And since the Chinese writing system has nearly 50,000 characters, this method has clear benefits. It also leads to a kind of “democracy” of learning, whereby pupils of all abilities reach goals together. In the freer Western system, it is easier for less bright students to fall by the wayside.

Another huge difference is the role of the teacher. Widely speaking, teachers in Western countries are afforded far less deference than they are in China, where the lao shi is edified and obeyed to the letter. So strong is the pupil-teacher bond that many students stay in touch with their tutors long after they have left school.

The role of the parent is also largely different in China, with mom and dad playing a greater role in encouraging (some might say “pressuring”) their children to learn. The stereotype of the pushy Asian parent is all too common, but for a generation that grew up during the Cultural Revolution – many of whom had to give up their studies and attend re-education camps – the importance of schooling for their children is huge. Getting good grades is essential, and hobbies are sacrificed in favour of homework. While this sort of set-up can spawn less well-rounded adults, the importance of striving for excellence cannot be denied in a country with fewer post-graduate employment options than the West.

Another notable difference is the method of reward. While Western education systems favour the carrot instead of the stick, it is more common in China to punish mistakes than to praise good work. Many critics cite this as cruelty, but the other end of the spectrum is the permissive “everyone’s a winner” attitude that blights Western education and churns out generations of self-entitled adults.

Chinese students preparing for the college entrance exam

What the Chinese think of their system

But what do Chinese people think about their education system? Are they happy with their schooling, or do they find it lacking? On January 9th 2009, an article appeared in People’s Daily about the "National Mid-Term and Long-Term Educational Reform and Development Planning." This somewhat long-winded paper would gather opinions about China’s education system in order to asses and improve it. One participant, Han Qinglin, a strategic issues expert and inspector of Hebei Province’s Education Department, named three main problems. First was actual entry into schools – he claimed that many students found it difficult to get into a good school, for financial reasons or lack of places. Quality of education was his second as China develops socially and economically, a higher standard of education is needed. His final bugbear was employment post-graduation - namely whether a university education truly increases an individual’s chances at getting a good job. (Incidentally, the eventual outcome of the Educational Reform and Development Planning was a rise in spending on education, up to 4% of China’s GDP by 2010.)

For Chinese people themselves, opinions vary as to the quality of their education system. Amy Hu, a recent graduate, says, “Of course there are bad aspects in every system. The Chinese education model is often criticized for being rigid and too focused on learning by heart, but at least it provides a strong structure.” However, Frank Yan, age 27, remarks, “I sometimes wish I’d been educated overseas because it would have encouraged me to think more as an individual. At work I often feel hindered by the outlook I was taught at school.”

So while it is easy to criticize the Chinese education system and laud Western methods instead, the advantages should also be cited to avoid a one-sided discussion.
 

Related links
Major Advantage: How Trends in Higher Ed Are Shaping China’s Future
Lee Kaifu: China’s Education System Cripples Innovation and Entrepreneurial Success
The Chinese Teacher's Paycheck

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Keywords: education system advantages China education system differences china west China’s education system Chinese education model