Skip to main content
Log in

Pre-service Science Teacher Preparation in China: Challenges and Promises

  • Published:
Journal of Science Teacher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to present an overview of pre-service science teacher preparation in China, which is heavily influenced by Chinese tradition, Confucianism, and rapid social and economic development. The policies, science teacher education systems and related programs jointly contribute to producing enough science teachers for hundreds of thousands of schools at different levels. At the same time, some important reforms should be undertaken, and more candidates with the ability to do educational research should be trained. These qualified science teachers not only face the challenges of the new round of science education reform, but also take opportunities to implement new science curriculum effectively. Therefore, it will facilitate professional development and improve science education in turn.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Fu, X. (2013). The research on designing and implementing biological school-based curriculum with WISE resource (Unpublished dissertation). Beijing Normal University, Beijing (in Chinese).

  • Lin, J. (2008). On teaching conceptions and teaching behaviors of secondary science teachers (Unpublished dissertation). Beijing Normal University, Beijing (in Chinese).

  • Lin, J., & Liu, E. S. (2009). Review on researches of teachers’ conceptions of teaching and its enlightenment. Teacher Education Research, 21(4), 31–36 (in Chinese).

  • Lu, Q., & Liu, E. S. (2012). Alignment between high school biology curriculum standard and the standardised tests of four provinces in China. Journal of Biological Education, 46, 149–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2001a). Full-time compulsory education biology curriculum standard (trial). Beijing, PRC: Beijing Normal University Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2001b). Full-time compulsory education physics curriculum standard (trial). Beijing, PRC: Beijing Normal University Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2001c). Full-time compulsory education science curriculum standard for elementary school (trial). Beijing, PRC: Beijing Normal University Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2003a). National biology curriculum standards for high school. Beijing: People’s Education Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2003b). National chemistry curriculum standards for high school. Beijing: People’s Education Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2003c). National physics curriculum standards for high school. Beijing: People’s Education Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2009). Number of full-time senior secondary school teachers by subject taught and educational attainment. Resource document. http://www.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/s4967/201012/113638.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2010). Number of full-time senior secondary school teachers by subject taught and educational attainment. Resource document. http://www.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/s6208/201201/129574.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2011a). Teacher professional standards (draft, in Chinese). Resource document. http://www.moe.edu.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/s6127/201112/127830.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2011b). K-12 teacher qualification examinations standards (draft, in Chinese). Beijing, PRC: Higher Education Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2011c). Number of full-time senior secondary school teachers by subject taught and academic qualification. Resource document. http://www.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/s7308/201305/152521.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Ministry of Education (MOE) of PRC. (2012). Number of full-time teachers in regular senior secondary schools by subject taught and educational attainment. Resource document. http://www.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/s7566/201308/156534.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Tao, Y., Oliver, M., & Venville, G. (2013). A comparison of approaches to the teaching and learning of science in Chinese and Australian elementary classrooms. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 50, 33–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Standing Committee of National People’s Congress. (1993). Teachers law of the People’s Republic of China. Resource document. http://www.moe.edu.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/moe_2803/200907/49852.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • The State Council of the People’s Republic of China. (2010). Outline of China’s National Plan for medium and long-term education reform and development (2010–2020). Resource document (in Chinese). http://www.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/moe_838/201008/93704.html. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Wen, Y., & Song, G. W. (2006). A study of research-minded teachers and their professional development. Journal of the Chinese Society of Education, 9, 73–77 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu, Y. J. (2014). Research of high school students’ ability in constructing scientific explanation in the context of natural selection theory (Unpublished dissertation). Beijing Normal University, Beijing (in Chinese).

  • Zhu, X. D., & Han, X. (2006). Reconstruction of the teacher education system in China. International Education Journal, 7, 66–73.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Enshan Liu.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, E., Liu, C. & Wang, J. Pre-service Science Teacher Preparation in China: Challenges and Promises. J Sci Teacher Educ 26, 29–44 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-014-9404-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-014-9404-1

Keywords

Navigation