Education in China: A Glimpse into the Future
Shenzhen, a vibrant and modern metropolis, is a hub for sustainable urban planning, efficient public transportation, and smart city technologies. The city is also home to some of the best and most modern schools in China, equipped with smart classroom technologies, digital whiteboards, and online learning platforms.
Modern Schools in Shenzhen
- Open and green spaces
- High-definition screens and 5G connectivity in classrooms
- Modern and well-equipped biology laboratories
- Robotics labs and artificial intelligence laboratories
- Spaces dedicated to art, music, and physical activities
Education in China: Facts and Figures
- 9 years of compulsory education
- 150,000 primary schools and 105 million students enrolled
- Net enrollment rate for primary education: 99%
- 80,000 junior secondary schools and 14,000 senior secondary schools
- Gross enrollment rate for secondary education: 89%
The Gaokao Exam
The Gaokao exam is the most important exam for Chinese high school students, determining eligibility for higher education institutions. It is highly competitive and stressful for students, who spend years preparing for it.
Government Commitment to Education
- Commitment to spending at least 4% of GDP on education
- Investment in construction and renovation of school buildings, particularly in rural areas
- Improving teacher salaries and providing ongoing professional development and training
- Investment in digital learning platforms and resources
Access to Education in China
Access to education in China has improved significantly over the past few decades, with significant achievements in universal primary education, expansion of secondary and higher education enrollment, and efforts to reduce disparities between urban and rural areas.
Higher Education in China
- Over 2,700 higher education institutions
- Gross enrollment rate in higher education: 54%
China has made significant strides in education, positioning itself as a country with broad and growing educational access.
Vocabulary Table
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable | Capable of being maintained at a certain level or rate | The city’s sustainable urban planning ensures efficient use of resources. |
| Smart | Using advanced technology to improve efficiency or performance | The smart classroom technologies enhance the learning experience. |
| Compulsory | Required by law or regulation | 9 years of compulsory education are mandatory for all students in China. |
| Net | Remaining after deductions or withdrawals | The net enrollment rate for primary education in China is 99%. |
| Gross | Total or overall, without deductions or withdrawals | The gross enrollment rate for secondary education in China is 89%. |
| Competitive | Having or involving competition | The Gaokao exam is highly competitive, with students vying for limited spots in top universities. |
| Stressful | Causing or involving a lot of anxiety or worry | The Gaokao exam is extremely stressful for many students, who spend years preparing for it. |
| Disparities | Differences or inequalities between groups or areas | The government is working to reduce disparities in education between urban and rural areas. |
| Broader | More extensive or wider in scope or range | China’s education system has made significant strides in recent years, positioning itself as a country with broader educational access. |
Education in China: Vocabulary Quiz
What does the term “sustainable” mean in the context of urban planning?
What is the term for the process of providing ongoing training and development for teachers?
What is the term for the percentage of students enrolled in a particular level of education?
What is the term for the exam that determines eligibility for higher education institutions in China?
What is the term for the process of reducing differences between urban and rural areas?
Answer Key:
- b) Relating to the environment
- a) Professional development
- b) Gross enrollment rate
- a) Gaokao exam
- d) Reduction of disparities
Grammar Explanation and Quiz: CEFR C1 Level
Grammar Focus: Using the Present Perfect Continuous to Describe Ongoing Actions
In the provided text, we can see examples of the present perfect continuous tense used to describe ongoing actions that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. This tense is often used to talk about actions that have a connection to the present.
For example:
- China has made significant strides in education… (The action of making strides started in the past and continues up to the present moment.)
- …spending years preparing for it. (The action of preparing started in the past and continues up to the present moment.)
To form the present perfect continuous, we use the present perfect form of the verb “to be” (has/have + been) + the present participle of the main verb (-ing form).
Let’s practice!
Quiz: Using the Present Perfect Continuous (CEFR C1 Level)
Choose the correct answer for each question:
- By the time I ____________________ (study) for three hours, I will take a break.
- will have studied
- have been studying
- study
- The company ____________________ (invest) heavily in research and development for the past five years.
- has invested
- has been investing
- invests
- By next year, I ____________________ (learn) French for three years.
- will have learned
- have been learning
- learn
- The government ____________________ (provide) financial support to low-income families for decades.
- has provided
- has been providing
- provides
- By the time I graduate, I ____________________ (attend) this university for four years.
- will have attended
- have been attending
- attend
Answer Key
- have been studying
- has been investing
- will have been learning
- has been providing
- will have been attending
