IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION

Question 1

Why did Mao bring about education reform?

Answer 1

Mao rejected traditional and western education is too elitist, he also needed a more skilled workforce

Question 2

What were the features of the reform of education?

Answer 2

Pinyin

Growth of literacy

Question 3

What did the introduction of pinyin do for education?

Answer 3

Adopted in 1956 to assist spread of literacy

Zhou Yougang oversaw the introduction of pinyin

Question 4

What did the growth of literacy do for education in China?

Answer 4

Majority of peasants were barely literate

Mid 1950s national system of primary school had been set up with successfull results

The need for technical experts, increased science and tech in uni

Large numbers of students went to study at Russian universities

Question 5

What were the overall successes of education in China?

Answer 5

Pinyin made education so much easier to read and write

Primary schools saw progress in literacy rates:
20% 1949
50% 1960
64% 1964

Question 6

What were the overall failures of the educational reforms in China?

Answer 6

Key schools attracted best teachers- reserved places for high ranking officials kids

Many elitist elements continued

More spent on Korean War than education- 6.4% of budget spent on culture and education in 1952

Culture revolution slowed the process- after the revolution literacy rates stood at 70%

The collapse of education in 1966

Question 7

What happened during the collapse of education in 1966?

Answer 7

Closure of schools and unis until 1970

Education of 130m young people stopped

1968 young people sent out to villages to be re-educated by working with peasants