A Big Day in China and \u2026<\/p>\n
Yesterday was a big day in China for millions of Chinese students, their parents and teachers.\u00a0 Nine and a half million students started the first of two days of examinations for college entrance.\u00a0\u00a0 The exams are known as \u201cgaokao\u201d and the seen by many as the most important days in a student\u2019s life.\u00a0 The exam result determines which university or college a student is eligible to enter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vehicle horn\u00a0 blowing was forbidden and construction sites were shut down in Beijing in order to create a quiet and undisturbed environment for students.\u00a0 (Horn blowing in Beijing is minimal compared with other cities.)\u00a0 Throughout the country police, volunteers and others are out in force to ensure the process ran smoothly and \/or to cope with any sort of disturbance or disaster, natural or otherwise. \u00a0Special arrangements were made for students requiring examination in established disaster zones e.g. Yushu earthquake area or impending disaster zones, areas of southern China at risk of flooding and landslides.<\/p>\n
Corruption has been a feature of the exams in past years.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Cheating occurs at a very sophisticated level, hence electronic surveillance.\u00a0 Various forms of surveillance are undertaken. \u00a0Examinations were held in Imperial days to determine entitlement to positions within court and the equivalent of the civil service.\u00a0 Cheating was common then too. \u00a0The problem is that then and now, life outside of the education system was\/is not financially and culturally attractive. So education has, and is seen to be, the holy grail.\u00a0 China is changing so that the clever and determined ones can make a suitable life without a college or university education.\u00a0 However, it is still far from easy.\u00a0 Millions of university and college students are without jobs, or the entry level jobs they aspire to, and are known in the media as \u201cants.\u201d Apparently they live in crowded conditions in particular areas of Beijing constantly seeking employment and remaining optimistic.<\/p>\n
According to yesterday\u2019s English TV report about half of the students will get a placement somewhere. Last semester one of my bright first year students told me that she cried for days because she missed out on her choice of college by one mark.\u00a0 Based on where she wanted to go and her current situation that one mark has changed her life.<\/p>\n
The whole system of college and university placement seems rather confusing.\u00a0 From what I have read the reality is that there is room for individuality at the provincial level.\u00a0 However, and at whatever level it is managed, it means that some students are placed in courses and classes they don\u2019t want and\/or are ill equipped to manage.\u00a0 I have, and have had English students who should not be in my classes.\u00a0 The college is not equipped to deal with students requiring remedial assistance in English. \u00a0When I raised the issue I was told it was under consideration.<\/p>\n
On Sunday when I was wandering the streets with a student we passed a rather well kept, expensive looking school.\u00a0 I was told it was the best school in Xingtai, the Number One School.\u00a0 I believe all schools have numbers.\u00a0 Also think it is the one where a couple of Canadians I met last year teach.\u00a0 I was invited to sit in on a lesson but was busy at the time and never followed it up.\u00a0 They are there because their section of the school follows a Canadian syllabus.\u00a0 All subjects are taught in English so the school needs teachers capable of teaching science subjects and Canadian history and so on.\u00a0 As it is connected with Canada, successful students are eligible to attend Canadian universities.\u00a0\u00a0 This is one way of having two chances at university entry.\u00a0 When we walked past we saw students sitting in groups on lawns and walking around trying to memorise information.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Many students go directly from Chinese high schools to foreign universities.\u00a0 Others attend high school in a foreign country to ensure a better chance of achieving university entry.\u00a0 I can remember when I was in my final year of high school that we had three Asian students attend my school for exactly that reason. \u00a0The difference is that none came from China.\u00a0 In those days the Chinese ones were busy being culturally educated in the countryside.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.kerry.net.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/195.jpg\" "\\"One")
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