In 1966, the "cultural
revolution" (1966-76) started. In this political
movement involving the entire country in its dire consequences,
schools suspended classes so that students might engage
in "revolution." Education was basically in
a state of collapse. In the last years of the "cultural
revolution" (1966-76), almost no school in the entire
country has its glasses intact. A generation of young
Chinese lost the opportunity to receive an education.
Beginning
from 1978, implementation of the government's reform
and open policies brought about a rapid economic development.
Economic development requires large numbers of educated
people, and developing education became an important
matter having a direct bearing on the prosperity of
the country and the quality of the nation. Making primary
school education universal once again became a focus
of education in the country. Article 19 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China promulgated in 1982 provides for the popularization of primary compulsory
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education. This is the first legal provision in China about making compulsory education universal.
An educational
reform blueprint made public in 1985 proposes a basic
popularization of primary school education throughout
the country in the 1980s. It requires provinces (autonomous
regions and municipalities directly under the central
government) to achieve this goal in a step-by-step way
in accordance with their respective economic, cultural
and other conditions. In areas with a good economic
foundation and well-developed education, primary school
education should be made universal before 1985. The
deadline is 1990 for other areas and may be postponed
for a very few remote and sparsely-populated areas.
According to the document, the elementary education
follows the principle of "responsibility shouldered
by the locality, and tiered management," thus arousing
the initiative of local government in running schools.
Compulsory
Education Law of the People's Republic of China promulgated
in April 1986 contains a clear stipulation on the provision
of a nine-year compulsory education in China. It says:
"All children who have grown to the age of six,
regardless of sex,
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