China's Education System: Preparing for a Glorious Future
Text/ Mark Eghrari

     What an incredible feat: the simultaneous preparation of hundreds of thousands of youth, to move forward an ever-advancing civilization.
     This is the formidable task that lies ahead for China. To best understand what this exceptional educational endeavor entails, we must first determine the very purpose of education. If its goal is to provide children with the skills and tools necessary for contributing to the betterment of human civilization, then we also need to take a closer look at the nature of this civilization that we want to create and live in.
     On the one hand, the need exists to prepare our students for a material civilization, through the development of the sciences and arts to a degree unparalleled in the past. The vast amount of opportunities available today, to alleviate humanity of the illnesses and sufferings with which it has struggled for so many centuries, are unprecedented. It is our duty, to strive with heart and soul, to unlock the scientific mysteries of this world for the betterment of humanity. China, at the current time, can be considered among the leaders in this respect. The strict educational process has produced countless scholars and scientists of extraordinary capacity.
     On the other hand, the crucial need also exists to prepare our students for a divine civilization, through the development of virtues. Virtues do not suddenly appear in people, nor are they simply created or fabricated. Rather they must be developed. The educational process must take this into consideration and work to develop the spiritual health and well-being of its students. Why is this important?
     What type of work will others expect, from scholars who do not practice the virtue of truthfulness? A student may be at the top of his class academically, but if he is selfish, he will be the cause of pain and misery to those around him. A school may put forth numerous minds of intelligence; but if these graduates have not developed virtues, they will eventually be a source of shame for the school, not a source of honor.
     In the words of a Wise Teacher, "Material civilization is like unto the body; divine civilization is like unto the spirit. A body without the spirit is dead, although it may be clothed in the utmost beauty and comeliness."
     Now imagine these same scholars and students, determined to attain the human perfections of compassion, selflessness, forbearance, and amity. One can envision the achievements that can be realized, if in these souls, a desire to strive for the betterment of humanity has been developed.
To adequately prepare its students for tomorrow's global material and divine civilization, is the task that lies ahead for China's education system. It is formidable, but determination is one of the many virtues that Chinese students hold dear. China's philosophers and Teachers of centuries past, have longed for this Day, a Day of unparalleled, unmatched capacity. A most glorious future awaits China! Therefore, let us prepare the students today, so that they can positively contribute to the material and divine civilization of tomorrow.