China has introduced new curricula in its senior middle schools this autumn in an effort to step up educational reform.
The new courses have been adopted in high schools in ten provinces and municipalities on a trial basis, according to the Ministry of Education.
The new curricula features updated science and technology information as well as more selective courses, and it encourages class discussion and debate.
The reform aims to improve students' creativity, independence and imagination, according to ministry officials, adding that it will help Chinese students learn things that are not explained by the textbooks.
For 20 years the challenging college entrance examinations have driven students to memorize their textbooks word for word, depriving them of flexibility in the way they think, according to educational experts.
Students have complained that they have had no time to read what they like or to express what they really think. Many of them have said they know little about what really happens outside of shool.
The Ministry of Education began to develop new curricula for high school students in 1996.
(People’s Daily 10/19/2000)
