In 1844, a clergyman set up China's first girl school in Ningbo of Zhejiang Province. Most early girl schools were supported by churches, with the primary aim of educating new church staff. Religion and foreign languages were the main courses, although the syllabus also stretched to maths, science, biology and physiology.

In 1898, the first girls' school managed by Chinese was founded with the aim of training good wives and mothers, but it was closed by the Qing Dynasty Government after two years.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, girls' schools have obtained legal status. Several girls' schools opened in rapid succession.

The period from 1930 to 1950 was a flourishing era for girls' schools. The predecessors of the Shanghai No. 3 Girls High School -- St. Mary's Hall and McTyeire School -- were famous at that time. Madam Soong Chingling and her sisters Ailing and Meiling were students at this school.

Hundreds of all-girl schools were closed or transformed into co-educational schools with both boy and girl students during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), since they were thought to serve the "aristocracy" instead of the workers.

In 1981, Shanghai No. 3 Girls' High School took the lead in returning to single-sex education.

According to the latest statistics, there are currently 15 all-girls middle schools around the country.

(Shanghai Star March 6, 2003)