On The Educational Reform And Its Impact Of Yuan Shikai During "New Policy" Period At The End Of Qing Dynasty

Yuan Shikai is a figure of much influence in the history of China. Because of his unique social and political status as the originator of the Northern Warlords and the first president of Republic of China, he has a profound impact on many aspects of Chinese society, which also made him an object of multidimensional study by his descendants.In the past, academic research on history evaluated Yuan Shikai mainly in critical terms while in recent years, with the historical and political factors which affect people's objective judgement gradually reduced, with the wide excavating and publishing of first-hand materials, it was found that Yuan Shikai has played objective role in promoting China's modernization in economic, political, military, educational, legal and other aspects . Especially during "New Policy" at the end of Qing dynasty period, Yuan Shikai seized the opportunity to carry out a series of reforms in education which had a big part in accelerating the modernization of China's education. In military education, he actively set up military schools, carried out military reforms, encouraged studying military knowledge abroad and all this improved the military development of China. In general education, Yuan Shikai advocated the abolition of the imperial examination system, established new schools and widely set up moral schools, all of which built the base of modern education of China. In educational management , Yuan Shikai established Secretary of school and study-advising institutions , formulated series of educational laws and regulations, compiled unified textbooks and set up complete local educational management system .In social education, he founded general science museums, libraries, carried out social education through educational institutions such as newspaper-reading sites, skill-learning sites for criminals and facilities to promote the change of traditional values of people.The groundbreaking educational reform conducted by Yuan Shikai is obviously an accomplishment and an important part of his political career. Although his educational thinking and practice has inevitable limitations due to age restrictions, the active role Yuan shikai played in promoting the modernization of China's education should be affirmed.