In China a public school system was established only in the 20th century. In traditional China moral education had priority whereas elementary education had to b e taken care off privately. Under the rule of Mao, the building of the school system was again interrupted. During the time of the cultural revolution universities and colleges, in some cases even ordinary schools, were closed. It was only at the end of the 70s that the main emphasis of general interest switched to teaching knowledge, which is considered to be an indispensable requirement for the modernization of China. After Maos's death, the education system obtained a new status. Specialized knowledge played a main role now and in 1986 a law to make school attendance compulsory was passed.
The general compulsory school attendance amounts to nine years. Children start at the age of seven and have to attend elementary school for six years. From the age of 13 to 15 they attend the junior classes of a middle school (compared to the German Sekundarstufe I). After finishing junior middle school, the parents have a choice about where to send them for further education. About a third of the pupils choose senior middle school (compared to German Sekundarstufe II), where they first of all have to pass an entrance examination. There are three more years at school. Afterwards they can decide for university, containing four years of studying, or for a vocational school/technical college for another two years. In both cases you have to pass an entrance examination. The obligatory school is free of charge, but nevertheless the school can require high fees e.g. for books or teacher's salaries. The private schools and universities, on the other hand, are very expensive.
Children who do not attend senior middle school classes can choose to attend a college of further education or a training college, which takes two to four years to get a degree. Afterwards they directly start working in their jobs.
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