| Culture
and Education in Macao
Though Macao is small in size, different languages,
values, religions, architectural styles and cultural customs have long existed side by
side in the area, which, through interaction, have given rise to a culture with unique
features.
Macao is among the earliest open areas exposed to Western culture in China. It was mainly
through Macao that Western mathematics, astronomy, geography, medicine, physics,
architecture, linguistics, art and music were introduced into China in the early days. The
Portuguese missionaries once turned Macao into the center for propagating Catholicism in
East Asia. Matteo Ricci, a famous missionary, entered China through Macao. Meanwhile,
China Confucian philosophy, classic literature, medicine, art, painting and architecture
were brought to the West through Macao.
Macao is renowned for the colorful exchanges between Chinese and foreign cultures it
sponsors. Many people in Macao are actively involved in promoting public cultural
undertakings and cultural exchanges. The recently held Macao Music Festival, Macao Art
Festival and Macao International Dance Festival have all proved highly successful.
Macao China Music Ensemble and Chamber Music Orchestra stage regular overseas
performances, which are warmly received. The writers, calligraphers and painters in Macao
are also actively involved in conducting international exchanges.
The cultural affairs fall within the scope of the high degree of autonomy to be enjoyed by
the Macao Special Administrative Region. According to Article 125 of the Macao Basic Law,
the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region shall, on its own, formulate
policies on culture, including literature, art, broadcasting, film and television
programs. The cultural institutions in Macao may operate according to law after Macao
return to China and shall not become affiliates of the national cultural organizations on
the mainland of China. The prospects are bright for the cultural exchanges of the future
Macao Special Administrative Region.
In the field of education, there are three types of schools in Macao: public schools,
church-run schools and private schools. After the introduction of free education by the
Macao government in 1964, the private schools were turned into public school network
schools and non-public school network schools. The former practices free education.
Students at these schools do not pay tuition fees. And the non-tuition fees are less than
20% of the free education subsidy.
Macao practices a system of ten year free education, which covers preparatory courses of
primary school to the third year of middle school. There are 123 schools in Macao,
including three government-run Portuguese language schools, two private Portuguese
language schools, 17 government-run schools for teaching both Chinese and Portuguese and
101 private schools(including four schools for special education). The University of
Macao Founded in 1991, the university has trained 3000 graduates. It now opens 20 MD
courses with 385 students and 8 Ph.D courses with 15 students. The university has under it
the school of business administration, school of education, school of literature, school
of liberal arts, law school and school of Portuguese literature. The University of Macao
has ties with 140 universities in the world and student exchange programs with 42
universities.
The Macao Institute of Technology The institute was founded in 1991 and now has an
enrollment of 1,000. It consists of the school of advanced management, school of languages
and translation, school of sports, school of arts, school of public health and school of
public administration. The institute offers many advanced courses and degree earning
courses. It also runs a number of non-degree-taking training courses for the general
public. It plans to set up a degree earning school for the aged.
The Macao Tourism College It was formerly a tourist school. Later, the advanced tourist
school was set up and the two were merged into one under the name of Macao Tourist
Training School. It changed into its present name in 1997. The Macao Tourism College is
the only government-run college offering degrees in tourist administration.
In addition, there are in Macao two open universities, namely, the Asia(Macao)
International Open University and the Public Education University, which offer courses to
employees, both public and private. |
