Despite his busy schedule, Zhu Yongxin, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference member and deputy mayor of Suzhou City in east China, dedicates most of his spare time to his pet project he calls The New Educational Experiment. Zhu, on March 2, gave China.org.cn a firsthand introduction to the program, which focuses on the upgrading of teaching skills and teacher-student interaction, and is being touted as China's new Hope Project.

 

 

The New Educational Experiment was launched in Suzhou in 2002, as a pilot program aimed at modifying existing teaching methods in China's schools. The program is focused on the professional development of teachers and teaching methods through several means, including creating a more scholastic atmosphere in schools, encouraging teachers and students to exchange views on curriculum, engaging the assistance of education professionals, sending teachers for courses to improve presentation skills, and the establishment of online communities.

 

Zhu hopes that the program will provide participating teachers with a greater sense of career satisfaction.

 

 

According to Zhu, one of the ways the program can foster the development of a scholastic atmosphere is by encouraging teachers, students and, in some instances parents, to read more together, and to participate in more public discussions.

 

At present, more than 430 schools, both public and private, in 24 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions are participating in the experiment. In terms of participant numbers, that works out to about 60,000 teachers and over a million students.

 

Related news: Educational Program Harvests Positive Results

 

 

(China.org.cn March 2, 2007)