By Tao Wenyan (
Global Times)
10:52, September 06, 2012
The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education recently prohibited junior high schoolsfrom using Mathematical Olympiad results as one of the conditions for admissionapplications.
It seems comforting that a large number of children will be released from this dull andobscure course. My little niece in Beijing sounded cheerful when she heard the news.Less homework, more playtime, that's all she, like most kids at her age, asks for.
But the reality always turns to be cruel. If not this test, there would be another. In fact,something similar happened in Shanghai last year, with the English-language Star Test.Like the Mathematical Olympiad training course, this was another "popular course" forparents, if not for students.
To get a head start, numerous parents pushed their young children to take the StarTest, the results of which are valued by many primary and junior high schools inconsidering the admission applications.
To relieve the heavy burden on schoolchildren, the Shanghai education authoritiesabolished this test by directly closing down the organizer.
However, around eight months later, schoolchildren are still busy with various coursesand tests now. The daughter of a friend of mine complained that she and most of herclassmates are studying English courses such as Side by Side, New Concept Englishand Pearson Test of English at weekends.
On the other hand, some parents are concerned about these prohibitions. Nearly everyparent expects a better future for their children. If a kid can study in a good junior highschool, it is more likely that he or she can get into a reputable senior high school, thena top university, and eventually get a decent job. However, the vacancies in the handfulof good junior high schools each year are very limited compared with the huge numberof applicants.
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