高职学院　张韦华

Private school has sprung up in recent several years, though Chinese colleges are for the most part public school. Private schools develop well in western countries, such as Harvard and Stanford in America, which have attracted students all over the world. But in China, the situation is completely opposite. Every high-school graduate who is ready for college may choose public school first. Those famous domestic universities are also public ones. Private school has a large room to develop. It has many advantages and should be encouraged in China.
In fact, private school has a long history in China. In the past, it was called “si shu” in Chinese. It appeared in Zhou Period, about 2000 years ago, of whose father is Confucius. Private school had been an important modus of education until liberation. Then public schools got the upper hand.

However, it’s reported that China’s university graduates are facing the toughest job market. Less than half of the college graduates in 2000 could find jobs in their specialties compared with 80 percent ten years ago. Why do college graduates find it increasingly difficult to get a rewarding job? One important reason perhaps is that many college and universities fail to adapt the courses to the development of economy. Students find it hard to translate their book knowledge into real job skills. When it takes to private school, it focuses on developing the diversity. Students don’t have to memorize much of the combining of books and practices.
Second, traditional exam-oriented system still exists in public high education. The colleges lay stress on students’ exam scores. In order to work for their degrees, students always bury themselves in books and large amounts of tests. By contrast, the private school pays more attention to the creativity of students and their all-round development. The students are encouraged to do develop their practical ability and originality.

Moreover, with the expanding access to college, the number of university students has skyrocketed in recent years. The more students in one class, the more difficulty may have in the teaching activity. Among 50 students, maybe half of them don't listen. So, it is hard to avoid descending the quality of education. Unlike public school, private school can provide you with individual attention, and give you advice on choosing your favorite major and job.
In addition, by having the freedom of act like a private industry, to hire and fire professors and select their students according to their own criteria, private institutions could be a stimulus for changes.

Finally, encouraging private school in China will provide a different type of education and offer more choices for high-school graduates. It also can increase competitions between private school and public school, and promote the innovation of China’s education structure.
Alternatively, it’s a pity that China is still lack of high quality private school. What’s more, in most people’s impression, private school means high tuition. This makes many excellent students with poor financial background flinch. They can’t afford the high cost of education.

But despite the recent boom in private schools, it is unlikely for it to replace public school in a short time. The tradition is still strong enough. We should attach more importance to the development of private schools, which have great potential to be realized. Private school should be encouraged in China, and it needs time to be perfected.

（吴华荔老师　批阅）