Contemporary Issues in American vs. Chinese Education

1 Contemporary Issues in American vs. Chinese Education The number of Chinese college students willing to study in the United States has been steadily rising (Huang, 2012). However, Chinese parents consider their elementary and high school education the best globally. The U.S and Chinese education systems differ significantly in various aspects. Nonetheless, these differences do not hinder Chinese students from choosing to study abroad upon reaching college-level (Yan, 2017). Chinese parents and educators view their system as a strong foundation for academic excellence while believing the U.S system is beneficial to students' creativity. The Chinese education system is pegged on knowledge accumulation.

Educators employ tactics that promote knowledge accumulation among students (Yan, 2017). This education system encourages students to understand knowledge systems and structures and use this knowledge to improve their lives. A major similarity between the U.S and Chinese education systems is that they focus on improving the student knowledge utilization in society (Jones & Harris, 2020). This system provides students with a base to criticize knowledge, ideologies, and concepts. This paper explores the problems facing the American and Chinese education system and their impact on employability.

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2 1. A problem related to Chinese education and its impact on employability One major problem with the Chinese education system is that advancing from high school to college is dependent on passing a single exam, the Gaokao. This exam serves as the only college entry criteria for all Chinese students (Hamnett et al., 2019). People, who fail the Gaokao, do not advance their education past high school; hence their future academic progress is dimmed. The employability of these people is significantly poor compared to those who proceed to colleges and universities. For generations of Chinese, higher education was the only ticket to success and career growth. People who failed the Gaokao never proceeded to colleges meaning they never acquired a degree. This perception still holds for many Chinese especially in the rural regions. They are employed in poor jobs and their prospect of succeeding in life is significantly lower than those with college degrees. Unfortunately, the Gaokao is a tough exam and only the brightest students stand a chance to excel (Hamnett et al., 2019). This exam is conducted in June.

Many students consider Gaokao a life-changing moment in their lives. Although the Chinese regard the Gaokao as a fair way of screening talents, it does not favor people in the rural regions due to limited resources compared to urban regions. The Gaokao determines the universities the students will attend depending on their pass marks. Therefore, this exam has a lifelong impact on Chinese students. Failure to take this exam affects the job prospects and job mobility of young people.

2. How the U.S handles a similar problem and achieves better results In the United States, entry to universities and colleges is not dependent on passing a single exam like the Gaokao. Students have to pass three major exams to gain entry to the university. They also need to prove high school completion and proof of English language literacy (Jones & Harris, 2020). University entry in the United States is highly competitive.

3 However, unlike the Chinese education system, colleges are less competitive. High school education is fairly easy than in the Chinese system, and high school graduates can get to colleges with much lower grades. This implies that those who fail university requirements have another college chance (Jones & Harris, 2020). College entry in the U.S requires proof of good grades in the previous academic study.

Further, in the U.S, students can get into the university through pathway programs. These programs are available at different levels of study, including high school graduate level, bachelors, and master's levels. Passing an exam is not a key requirement in these programs.

3. A problem related to the U.S education system and how it negatively affects employability The U.S education system encourages using technology in the classroom based on the perception that this approach improves educational opportunities for students. Unfortunately, screen culture complicates teachers' work in the classroom. Technology has transformed education into entertainment in various ways. Further, the technology knowledge base varies from one student to another, making it hard for teachers to keep up with technology-savvy students. Technology negatively impacts the education system through four major paths. The first path is reducing the students’ reading and writing competencies (Jornitz & Parreira, 2020).

Technology has also dehumanized the educational environment and distorted social interactions between educators and students. Technology isolates students from traditional social activities and increases the risk of depressive symptoms (Jornitz & Parreira, 2020). Despite technology, savvy professionals stand a better employability chance in the job market. They may have deficient interpersonal skills to promote social and organizational growth and sustainability.

4. How the Chinese handle the same problem and achieve better results

4 China has integrated technology into the education system to help students navigate the complex system. Consequently, technology makes teaching easier, making lessons more engaging and interactive. Chinese students have realized the importance of using technology to improve their involvement in the learning process (Wang, Ma & Martin, 2015). The Chinese education system has allowed educators to use artificial intelligence in the classroom. Rather than using technology as a form of entertainment, China allows artificial intelligence companies to partner with learning institutions to train students. This approach creates a platform that helps students appreciate the role of technology in the professional world (Wang, Ma & Martin, 2015).

The desire to utilize technology in the classroom stems from the competitive Chinese environment. To gain entry to colleges, Chinese students must pass the Gaokao test. This test is perceived as a significant determinant of success since it is the only way to get into the major tertiary learning institutions.

Conclusion Education is pegged on culture, and diversities in education systems reflect diversity in societies and cultures. Although the American education system is good, it does not fit the needs and interests of all people, including the Chinese and vice versa. It is impractical to categorize these education systems as ineffective considering they focus on almost different goals. The two education systems have room for improvement. Through international awareness, China and the U.S can learn a lot concerning education.

5 References Hamnett, C., Hua, S., & Bingjie, L. (2019). The reproduction of regional inequality through university access: The Gaokao in China. Area Development and Policy, 4(3), 252-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/23792949.2018.1559703 Huang, Y. (2012). Transitioning challenges faced by Chinese graduate students. Adult learning, 23(3), 138-147. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1045159512452861 Jones, M., & Harris, A. (2020). Leading and transforming education systems: Evidence, insights, critique, and reflections. Springer.

Jornitz, S., & Parreira. A. (2020). The Education Systems of the Americas. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Wang, C., Ma, W., & Martin, C. L. (2015). Chinese education from the perspectives of American educators: Lessons learned from study-abroad experiences. Information Age Publishing.

Yan, K. (2017). Chinese international students' stressors and coping strategies in the United States. Springer.