Education can bring about far-reaching influences. Its development has freshened the mindset of the whole nation. Photo: FILE

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China has made great strides in education since the reform and opening up, amassing a talent pool and intelligent support for its overall development.

“China’s achievements in the past four decades are a testament to how education can fuel a country’s progress in its politics, economy, culture and society while supporting the development of regions, organizations and individuals,” said Li Qi, a professor from the Faculty of Education at Beijing Normal University.

For Wu Gang, a professor from the Faculty of Education of East China Normal University, technology and capable people are the bedrock of a modern nation. Technological innovation and talent cultivation are inseparable from education development.
 

Thriving education has brought about far-reaching influences. The spread of basic education and higher education have remarkably freshened the mindset of the whole nation and given birth to infinite possibilities, thus promoting the overall civilization.
 

As the most populous country, China’s development in education marks a step forward for global education. Also, education allows people to fulfill individual values, said Jia Yongtang, a professor from the Institute of Education and Science at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
 

“A landmark event took place when China resumed the gaokao [Chinese university entrance examination, which was suspended for 10 years due to the Cultural Revolution],” Wu said, acknowledging that the national higher education entrance exam has established a mechanism for talent selection and impacted social mobility by providing a path for young people to obtain a higher social status.
 

China’s education system has been improved tremendously. As a result, there is a higher percentage of the population with a higher education background. Also, Wu added, if we look at the country’s education from a global perspective, its open system has led to excellent performance in international student assessment projects.
 

Li listed three inspiring achievements of the reform and development of education in the past 40 years. The re-adoption of the gaokao made allocating education opportunities a priority. The gaokao gave opportunities to the students who pursued comprehensive development, rather than those with better family backgrounds or plenty of social capital.
 

In the 1980s and the 1990s, a series of laws were passed to streamline higher education. After that, universities gained vitality as university autonomy and government supervision formed a relationship in which the two sides strengthened and checked each other.
 

The development of Chinese education can be attributed to a bold exploration in an open environment that has boosted diversity and inclusiveness. To upgrade the education system, Wu suggested, China needs to adhere to the valuable traditions of the reform and opening up and seek diverse development paths.

 

(edited by MA YUHONG)