I would like to hear from the mixed couples and western couples who have children, and who plan to be in Kunming for the long term.

What plans do you have to educate your child/ren here in China?

I have a Chinese wife, and a seven month old son. The education of my son here in China has given me much cause for concern.

From my experience of living in China for 2 years, and spoken to many Chinese adults about the education system, I know it leaves a lot to be desired.

First of all when I went to school back in South Africa, I was finished with classes by 2pm, so I had the afternoons to play sports, play with friends, and do extracurricular activities. Essentially I had time to be a child while growing up.

Also the education system in South Africa focused on application of the knowledge we learned, and the use of logic. Yes we had test scores, but they weren't the be all and end all. The principle of 'knowledge was useless, unless you could apply it' was at the core of our education system.

I want my son to enjoy his childhood, and have time to be a child. I don't want him going to school everyday until 6pm, only to come home to have to do homework until he goes to sleep at midnight; only to wake up early and do it all again.

I have considered doing home schooling, and finding a few like minded parents who also want their children to experience a western education system. I have thought that we could hire tutors to teach the group of children the various subjects; with the parents splitting the costs.

I would like to know what are my options here in Kunming for educating my child? How are the other mixed race and western couples planning to educate their children here in Kunming?

Please I would like to really hear from the other couples. What are your thoughts?

My Chinese wife and I have an 11 month son. I've worked in Chinese state and private schools for 12 years and your worries about the education system for young children are well-founded. The absurd competitiveness between schools for how much homework they can give and how long they can keep the kids in school studying is frightening. There's a whole culture of "gifts" for teachers too, to ensure your child is well looked after. Perversely, students in University/College education seem under far less stress than the youngsters and often seem to plagiarise their way to degrees. In my experience, anyhow.

Our vague plans are to put our son through Kindergarten and some Primary school here in Kunming and then move back to the UK for the rest of his education. It depends on various factors though, not least an ageing mother-in-law and her health.

@mandrake
As @Ocean notes - the homework in China is generally ludicrous - but it is designed to teach the discipline of studying at an early age. At later ages - such as Junior to Senior high - it's designed to keep the kids mostly out of trouble.

As you may be aware - kids in American schools have lots of free time on their hands - which potentially leads to teen pregnancies, drug abuse, petty and violent crimes, etc ad infinitum.

The kids here begin their guanxi bonding at an early age - kind of like going through boot camp together (except boot camp lasts 12 years + pre-school).

Despite all this - my children (>1) manage to create all sorts of idiotic but generally benign issues to attract my attention while performing passably (and sometimes not) on their exams.

Comparable to most USA public schools - I'd guess they're A-B level students - but here - just average to barely passing.

Heaped on top of that is the fact that the Kunming school system tends to lag behind the better east coast school systems unless you can get you child into the "better" schools here - such as the Normal school (churns out homework slushing zombies) or the other affiliated pre-schools, primary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

Beware your children's friends - help them to choose wisely - I wasn't paying close-enough attention despite their teacher's warnings and I'm now paying the price of trying to break their habits of associating with lazy, shiftless, disrespectful trash - harsh words - but it's also a harsh lesson that I hope you and others can avoid.

The Chinese educational system - mathematics and certain sciences apart - has always focused on rote memorization. It's the parents' duty to teach the child applications - which are bountiful if you take your kids shopping, walking, etc.

That being said - I highly recommend you put your kids (if possible) into at least 1-2 years of local school - assuming their language skills can handle it. It will build their social skills as they learn to deal with racism, bullying, unwanted attention (as the idiot teachers inadvertently point out your kids are "half breeds" etc ad infinitum and learning how to manipulate and overcome social adversity into potentially life-long friends - or at the least - peaceful harmonious co-existence - a critical life-management skill.

I sent you a Pm Mandrake

i am also thinking about creating a learning environment for kids like yours. i want to bring in western teaching system to teach these kids. maybe we can discuss a reasonable play to do so.

So what are the options regarding private schools here in Kunming? Are there any that offer better education compared to the public schools? Also what is everyone's take on the international schools?

Hi Mandrake,

Thanks for starting this post!
I'm in the same boat and we've decided it'll be one of the Yunda or Shida primaries (or maybe Hongqi or Changchun primaries) - all top Chinese primary schools and then off to boarding school overseas at 12 if the kids seem the type to handle it. If not, we'll go all the way here.
In regards to these schools, I've tutored/taught ex-students of theirs and they may be 'exam-factories' but their students cream every other student in Yunnan. Shida Fuzhong is ranked the 37th best school in China which is nothing to sneeze at - direct admission to top local and chinese universities is an entirely possible outcome.

However, I think that we're in a different situation to lot of expats as we gave our kids Chinese citizenship and a Kunming hukou anticipating this decision.I understand that if you enter these schools on a foreign passport it's easy BUT the school fees are significant, around 40,000 a year (so I heard). If you're Chinese you either need an apartment in the right place, an exam score or money AND always guanxi to get your kid a place.
As far as I know the private situation for private schools is pretty grim - there's KIA which was originally of American Christian missionary origin though now (according to ex-teachers) sold out to rich chinese. There's also a lunatic Korean christian school up north (by lunatic I mean bible quotes in their math textbooks) which I wouldn't even consider. KIA costs 100,000RMB a year or some crazy thing like that.

@JCMKM well we also did the Chinese citizenship, and hukou in anticipation of our son being schooled here. However, we are not happy with everything I pointed out in my first post.

Mozart, maybe you could share more about what you are thinking of doing?

To be honest I have no interest in my son doing gaokao preparation. If I were to home school, it would certainly be an internationally recognized system like A levels or something that would allow him access to international universities. There is no way he is going to study at a Chinese university. They are a joke here.

So besides Mozart are there any other parents who are thinking of alternatives to the education available here?

Hi Mandrake,

The chinese schools I mentioned above do offer SAT and a-level options.

I'm in the same boat but not for several year. Has anyone thought of setting up some sort of a co-op system? Pretty much home school but with parents taking turns teaching subjects they're comfortable with.