Chenzhou's Education evolves from constant self-motivated reform. Since 1984, Chenzhou has organized four major reforms in education.

 

From 1984 to 1987, Chenzhou organized a reform in the rural education system, transforming the original system that was singly run by the state into the existing system of four-tier operation and three-tier management. From 1988 to 1990, Chenzhou implemented a comprehensive reform in rural education. The reform focuses on general education, vocational education and adult education in order to serve local economic development and civilization and prosperity of local farmers. The shifted focus from college admittance rate to service has brought about a qualitive leap in Chenzhou's education. From 1991 to 1994, Chenzhou initiated a reform in the operational mechanism of non-compulsory education, making the city the first in the country to operate compulsory education as an industry. Cost accounting was introduced and basic fees were charged accordingly. As a result, the non-compulsory education demonstrated an extraordinary development. From 1993 to 1998, the city classified the existing primary and secondary schools, and initiated a reform in the operation mechanism toward dynamic target management. As a result, the government, schools and community are closely knitted, providing a strong guarantee for educational development in Chenzhou.

 

These educational reforms have improved the profile of Chenzhou at home and abroad. During the last decade, more than 18 million people from the country have visited Chenzhou to learn its experience in educational reform and development. Officers from the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Australia, Thailand and UNESCO have also paid visit to Chenzhou twice and highly recognized its achievements. Its experience has also been introduced at a UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Seminar on Education Reform in rural areas held in Thailand.