A Study on the Admission System of Foreign Students in Chinese Public Schools —Focus on Chinese Language Education

Canjing Ma,Yansong Wang

doi:10.4236/jss.2020.88012

Abstract

Under the policy “reform admission and management for foreign students” promoted by Chinese government from 1990s, the admission system construction for foreign students of primary and secondary schools becomes an unneglectable issue. At present, there is a discrepancy existing between regulation and facts that the “international students’ division” was established noncompliance with the principle “learning in regular class”. The main reason is that it is more convenient to do necessary Chinese language instruction at “international students’ division”. In view of the above, this paper clarifies the problems on Chinese language education through analysis of relative policies and regulations at national and local level as well as investigating on 6 typical primary and secondary schools in Shanghai. According to the empirical research, the actual situation of Chinese language education for foreign students in primary and secondary schools has been revealed, such as the shortage of TCFL teacher, no amiable teaching materials and insufficient financial support etc. In conclusion, this paper proposed some suggestions to improve Chinese language education like training and allocation of TCFL teachers or development of professional TCFL materials adaptive to students in primary and secondary schools under the educational administration financial supports and so on.

Highlights

It’s necessary to clarify the present state and problems of the admission system in public elementary and secondary schools for foreign students in China by focusing on Chinese language education in order to investigate an appropriate approach to Chinese language education for them
In the case study on Chinese language education in elementary and secondary schools for Korean students, Park Xuanshu pointed out that there are only few schools allocating TCFL teachers for the small scale of foreign students or the students are too young to be taught under the Chinese language instruction system available
Teachers are required to have the ability to be evaluated through the TCFL system to teach foreign students

Summary

Foreign Students’ Admission Policy of Primary and Secondary Schools

In China, internationalization of education has been promoted since 1980’s. After that, the principle of “reform admission and management for foreign students” was announced under the policy of “Program for the Reform and Development of Education in China” in 1993. The admission of foreign students was positioned as a national policy Under these circumstances, the development of supervision and management has been highlighted in the education activities for children with foreign nationalities. 2) Elementary and secondary schools which acquire the admission qualification should enhance the teaching system and the management policy. Based on these strategies, the Ministry of Education reaches a consensus with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security to establish the “Interim Measures for the Management of Primary and Secondary Schools for Foreign Students’ admission” in 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the “Interim Measures”). It is considered that the Chinese language course is only allowed to be conducted in a special class on the assumption that the foreign students are admitted to the normal class learning with the Chinese students under the principle of “learning in regular class”

Practical Difficulties on Foreign Students’ Admission

TCFL’s Deficiency

Discrepancy between Regulation and Facts of Foreign Students’ Admission

Regulations of Chinese Language Education for Foreign Students in Shanghai

The Current Situation of TCFL Teacher

Chinese Language Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

Introduction of Sample Schools School A

Issues Concerning the Allocation of TCFL Teachers

Findings

Issues on Development of Teaching Materials