Rural and urban education systems in China are compared in terms of funding, educational resources, living and learning environments, teacher quality, and students' chances of social mobility. Fundamental inequality exists between urban and rural schools. Differential treatment of two types of schools, "keypoint" and…

Discusses the attempt, during China's Cultural Revolution (1968-1976), to sever links between school performance, often dependent on social class, and admission to higher education and resulting upward mobility. Most students then felt it useless to study because success or failure at school work had no bearing on their future. (MH)

Chinese history is outlined, modern developments briefly described and compared to events in Japan, and the development of the formal education system covered. Universalized educational opportunity and hierarchies in the school system are discussed as well as the school system in general and teacher education programs. (MH)