According to a national sample survey begun in 1982, the Chinese diet has improved over the last 25 years, though it is still lacking in protein, calcium, riboflavin and iron. Calcium for babies and school-age children is only half the recommended amount. The average daily intake of calories is 2485, most of which comes from cereals and tubers. Average daily consumption of protein is 67 grams (about 2 ounces) cereals provide nearly three-quarters of this.
Education
"Study without thought is a waste of time. But thought without study is dangerous.
(Confucius)
In the early 1950s, 80% of the Chinese population was illiterate or semi-illiterate. According to the 1982 census, that figure has fallen to 23%. Education suffered a setback in the Cultural Revolution when schools were closed and teachers (along with all intellectuals) designated the "stinking ninth category". Now, however, it is recognised that education has an important role to play in China's modernisation process.
Numbers in Education
Age
No of Students
Primary School
6-11 years
133.7 million
Junior Middle School
11-14 years
32
million
Senior Middle School
14-16 years
15
million
Technical Schools
14-16 years
4.165 million
Institutes of Higher Education
1.7
million
95.9% of China's school-age childen are enrolled in primary education, but education beyond primary level is still limited largely to urban areas. Institutes of higher education number 1016, and competition for entry is stiff. Adult education courses are on the increase, and 2 million people have taken television university courses since they began in 1979.
Greater numbers of Chinese students are going abroad to study. There are presently some 13,000 in America and 1400 in the UK. The number of foreign students in China is also increasing. There are now about 7000 from 109 countries, mostly from the Third World.
The school curriculum is changing gradually. Computers are being introduced into selected schools. Peking had 1265 computers in its middle schools, and 10,000 students had taken computing courses by 1985. Sex education classes, formerly taboo, are entering the curriculum.
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