ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how the policy of suzhi jiaoyu has shaped the meaning of education in China over the past 20 years or so. It examines the development of suzhi jiaoyu and the government's differing roles in different stages. The chapter further discusses how academics and educators in tertiary education have engaged with the policy and idea of suzhi jiaoyu. Interpretation and implementation of suzhi jiaoyu in tertiary institutions is a much-neglected area in the English language literature, possibly because suzhi jiaoyu was first proposed to address basic education, that is, primary and secondary education. Based on an examination of suzhi jiaoyu as a pan-politicisation project, the chapter argues that Chinese education should not be seen as a separate entity to politics. The chapter investigates the problematic English translation of the rather nebulous phrase of suzhi jiaoyu, which is guided by different interpretations of the purpose and essence of the education policy.
