In a victory for Chinese students' right to privacy, starting in
September, primary and junior middle schools will no longer be able
to reveal their pupils' test results publicly in front of entire
classes. The Ministry of Education (MoE) revealed this on Sunday,
also stating that these schools will now be forbidden from ranking
students according to results.
The ministry said the ban aims to reduce pressure placed on
young children by pushy parents and teachers, and prevent student
depression.
Chinese teachers, usually setting too much stock by test scores,
often praise those who perform well and frown upon those who lag
behind during the decades-old ritual of handing out test papers in
class.
The notice bars local education authorities from setting up "key
schools" or "key classes within a school", which are given
preferential treatment for funds and teacher quality.
"Public education resources should not be concentrated on
building or supporting a few model schools," the MoE notice said.
"And resources within a school need to be allocated in a balanced
manner."
Furthermore, in-school time will be reduced and the suspension
of all after-class study sessions, urging that "each student should
have at least one-hour physical training at school every day."
These measures will not be applicable to high schools, where
students lead rigid and stifled lives as they prepare for the
fiercely competitive college entrance exam, according to the
ministry.
Primary and junior high schools are now prohibited from using
exams, assessments or tests to enroll students, or scores in other
competitive evaluations. The frequency of exams held in schools was
also restricted in the notice.
The notice received a warm welcome from the public. More than
half of the 1,500 comments left by netizens on Sina.com, one of the
biggest Chinese news websites, said the measures are
encouraging.
Sun Min, mother of an 8-year-old girl in Nanjing, east China's
Jiangsu Province, said she applauds the ban as
children should not be regarded as "good" or "bad" based on their
scores.
"It's a kind of discrimination," she said.
Lou Guaiguai, a 14-year-old Beijing girl, said she is happy that
no more will she endure the nervous moment when teachers hand out
exam papers.
However, some parents worry that they might not know how their
children perform at school without the ranking.
"Ranking can inspire students and give parents a clear picture
about their child's study," said Huang Mengsheng, father of a
13-year-old boy in Nanjing.
Questions have also been raised as to how these policies will be
enforced in local schools. An anonymous comment on Sina claimed
that the policies were not far-reaching enough, arguing that it is
impossible for Chinese students to enjoy a happy childhood unless
the highly competitive college entrance exam is abolished.
"Our children are suffering from an exam-oriented education,"
the comment said, adding that change is impossible while the
college entrance exam exists.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2006)