The only way China will ever be No.1

Approximately 30 percent of Americans who have finished high school have a post secondary (college) degree. Less than 4 percent of Chinese hold a bachelors degree. In the US, about 41 percent of all people between the ages of 18-24 are enrolled in a college/university. In China, about 4.5 percent are enrolled. About $268 billion is spent on education in China annually. Nearly $1.6 trillion is spent in the US. (Also something of importance is to understand that Americans get a free education through the 12th grade of high school.) For China to equal America in the percentage of population getting higher education, China would have nearly 80 million people between the ages of 18 and 24 in college now. Ninety-one percent of students in college/university in China will eventually get their degree. About 75 percent of those in America will finally graduate with a degree. (99 percent of Chinese Americans hold a bachelors degree).

The answer to whatever China's problems and aspirations for the future is simply 'education.' Education will guarantee China's dominance in the world on many fronts. Not only degrees, but degrees that are gained with integrity and honesty, which give them inherent value. Any country could go about granting degrees. But, if it is widely known that college students cheat their way in getting an education, then their college degree is worthless.

Education reform is the key to China's future if they want to be recognized as the leading power that they should be. The need for more schools of higher learning is abundantly clear. The need for integrity in education is likewise obviously required. 

These statistics shock me. I don't write about them for the purpose of proving the US's superiority. I'm not that kind of expat and have no desire to make China look bad. I want to be part of the solution. And, in a small way, I'm doing what I can affect as many children's lives as possible. I am more determined now more than ever to positively affect as many students’ lives in China that I can affect. These stats and data can depress you or they can inspire and motivate you. I'm allowing them to inspire me to do my job to the very best of my ability and help Chinese children in every way that I can. 

Education can and will make the difference in China's future.

Note: All of my data was acquired from www.unesco.com, www.un.org and www.nationmaster.com . All are considered highly and reliably accurate, objective and fair data reporting sources.

The original blog is: http://blog.chinadaily.com.cn/blog-787069-25085.html