While the Compulsory Education Law calls for each child to have nine years of formal schooling, it is recognized that certain realities prevent this nine year standard to be implemented immediately. In the first two categories, the nine-year standard has, in most cases, become universal. In short, the nine-year standard continues to be universalized, but in the strict sense compulsory education in China remains not so much a law as as aspiration. In passing, it should be noted that the most important contributing factor the the drop-out rates at each level is the increasing cost of education in China. The Categories Within the Educational System 1.
Primary education includes pre-school education and elementary education.
Pre-school, or kindergarten, can last up to three years, with children entering as early as age three, until age six, when they typically enter elementary school. Elementary school begins with the first grade, and then proceeds through either grades five or six, depending on the system. The academic year is divided into two semesters, each consisting of 19 weeks, with a total of 38 weeks of instruction for the year. The remaining 13 weeks are for vacations and holidays. Secondary education is divided into regular secondary education and vocational and technical secondary education.