Education before reform

Question 1

Communist inherited v. low level of education from Nationalists at end of C.W.

STATS:

• Only 30% of males and 1% of females over 7 yrs/o could read simple letter.
• 45% of males received schooling, 2% of females.
• Males on average attended 4 yrs of school, females 3 yrs.
• 2/3rds of children received traditional, Confucian education.

Answer 1

• Confucian education included study of classical works used since AD400 to prepare students for imperial exams.
• Designed to become bureaucrats for imperial dyansties.

Question 2

SUBJECTS:

• Practical subjets e.g. Science: not included.
• Imperial exams abolished in 1905: replaced by modern western schools.
• These were small in no. & only in cities.
• System remained elitist: best schools located in wealthier parts of cities - set entrance exams to reduce access.

Answer 2

• Higher education: dominated by Humanitarian studies.

MORE STATS:

• Over 59% of students enrolled in full-time degrees studied law, politics or liberal arts.
• 10% studied natural science.
• 12% studied engineering.
• 3% studied agriculture.

Question 3

ROTE LEARNING:

• Pedagogy based on rote learning from books.
• Mao: openly dismissive of this.

Answer 3

• 1917: 17 of Mao’s fellow students died of overwork & excessive study…apparently.