中国古代基础教育的主体是民间私塾,现代学制设计之初,实行分级办学,将基础教育纳入地方政府的行政职能,同时又对传统私塾采取包容政策。于是在20世纪初,中国基础教育开始呈现传统私塾与新式学堂并举的二元结构,此种状况贯穿了整个民国时期,直到20世纪六十年代,基础教育机构才彻底完成从私塾到学校的转型。私塾在近现代社会的长期存在,延缓了中国基础教育现代转型的步伐,这既有制度设计方面的原因,也与社会结构与文化变迁高度相关。
Sishu in ancient China used to be the dominant institution of elementary education. With the social transformation and modernization in China since 1840, the traditional education system faced great challenges, hence the transformation of modern education. In elementary education system, the co-existence of both traditional and modern systems resulted in the fact that it was not until the late 20th century that the modernization of Chinese education was completed. It was a long transition process, from the disappearance of Sishu to the popularization of modern schools and the establishment of modern education system. After that, Chinese education has departed from the traditional system completely and is now moving towards modernization.