Canadian Offshore Schools in China

Abstract:

Since the mid-1980s China has opened up its education system to non-public institutions. It has also encouraged the establishment of foreign schools which is mainly due to the great demand from parents for quality schooling and their willingness to pay for their children’s education.  In 1995, the province of British Columbia authorized the establishment of the first offshore school, which used the BC curriculum, learning objectives, teaching materials, as well as employing BC-certified teachers and principals. Offshore schools receive no public funding, must be certified and must meet the basic requirements that apply to other independent schools in BC, including recurrent inspections. The paper examines a number of the problems facing these Canadian schools in China.  Among the more fundamental issues are the differences in educational objectives as defined in the respective education laws of China and BC. Thus, the mission of BC education is to educate young people for a “democratic and pluralist society” whereas the Chinese objectives of education are preparing students for “patriotism, collectivism and socialism.” There are also differences in the regulations the different Canadian provinces impose on offshore schools.