As holistic, or comprehensive education is gaining ground in China, people have finally come to realize that high scores alone do not make a good student in today's highly competitive society.

Holistic education, which aims to train a Jack of all trades and attaches equal importance to physical and mental health, is contrary to the traditional rote learning, the predominate way of teaching students and recruiting high-rank officials in China's long history.

Even today, this outdated practice still has its aftermath.

In many primary and secondary schools, textbooks and test papers have remained the key source of education. Creativity, adaptability and team work spirit have to give way as multitudes of secondary school graduates every year compete for limited places in colleges and universities.

Three years ago, both the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council said "no" to the traditional spoon-feeding way of education and told schools and parents to attach equal importance to schoolwork, sports, entertainment and psychological health.

More importantly, China is in great need of people with all-round abilities as it opens wider to the world and starts to adoptmany internationally accepted practices.

This has brought drastic changes to the Chinese value systems and way of life. Some say it has triggered another revolution in China.

At Beijing University, a top institution of higher learning in China, one third of the full-time students are pursuing a second degree and another third are doing part-time jobs to gain experience.

"Proficiency in at least one foreign language, computer skills and a driving license are essential for you to find a niche in the job market," said Wang Bin, a student from the International Politics Department, giving his interpretation of "holistic education".

Training programs in a variety of fields are now part of the agenda for many office workers, who seek to upgrade professional and all-round skills.

Incomplete figures show that one in 13 people in China receives professional training each year.

"Gone are the days when one single specialty promised a lifelong position," said Chen Yu, who is attending an after-work English course at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Eloquence and organizational skills are no more considered synonymous with talkativeness and pushiness as people have come torealize the importance of communication and teamwork.

A training program on better communication skills has drawn crowds of office workers who wish to upgrade their interpersonal skills and cope better with their supervisors and co-workers.

Meanwhile, many young students and office workers have taken part in challenging exercises such as rock climbing, bungee jumping and wilderness explorations as they learn to be persistent, courageous and teamwork.

At school, creative students instead of "by rote" learners are being labeled good students.

Several college students have recently hit the headlines when their award-winning technological inventions were bought by businesses for millions of yuan.

"It's a good opportunity for creative students to demonstrate their abilities by taking part in national science and technology contests and then marketing their findings," said Huang Heran, an educationist.

Colleges and universities are readjusting their curricula to ensure their graduates will adapt easily to society.

Business administration, insurance studies, network journalism and other fashionable subjects have all been included in curricula and applauded by students.

As the planned economy changes to a market economy, individuals are being encouraged to start up their own businesses. Some universities have even tailored special programs for students who have the potential to become entrepreneurs.

Holistic education has also give birth to a large group of talented juveniles with marked individuality once taken as incompatible with traditional Chinese values.

Han Han, a teenage writer who shocked his parents and teachers by refusing to go to college, wrote a best-selling novel in 2000.

The rebellious boy aroused widespread debate in China, but most people expressed understanding and tolerance. "People out of the ordinary should always be given the chance to develop their talent," said Huang, an economist based in Beijing.

( June 28, 2002)