Last Saturday the traffic of the business week faded only to be
replaced by a traffic jams of parents in the streets near Beijing
No. 8 and No. 35 middle schools and a number of other schools
throughout Beijing.
The occasion? National college entrance examinations.
The exams, which take place July 7-9 every year, are necessary for
admission into most of China's top universities and are thus
considered by most students and parents as a ticket to good job
opportunities in the future.
Statistics from the Ministry of
Education indicate that more than 4.53 million applicants
nationwide are taking part in this year's college entrance
examinations.
The number is 650,000 more than the 3.88 million who took the test
last year.
This year's test marks a break from the tradition of the previous
two decades. Roughly 16,000 participants over the age of 25 are
taking the exams this year, including 10 over 60. The oldest test
taker is 73.
Previously those above 25 were barred from sitting the national
college entrance examinations, but last April the Ministry of
Education announced that age and marital status restrictions
related to the test would be lifted.
"Removing the restrictions on the age and marital status is a big
reform step for the higher education sector. The reform is
significant to helping create lifelong learning conditions for the
public," said Qu Zhenyuan, director of the ministry's Department
for College Students' Affairs.
The changes have been lauded by people over 25 who now have a new
chance to fulfill their dream of receiving higher education, said
Qu, who was inspecting major schools in Beijing which housed
examinees on Saturday.
Critics have complained that the lifting of restrictions will cause
problems. Some, for example, have asked how a 60-year-old college
student will keep up with younger classmates during sports
activities.
Qu
responded by claiming colleges and universities can work out
flexible timetables that cater to both younger and older
students.
In
1999, the state began increasing college enrollment to help drive
domestic economic development through educational consumption and
provide youngsters with more opportunities to receive a higher
education.
Currently, 11 percent of China's high school students go on to
college or university. The number is expected to grow to 15 percent
by 2005.
(China Daily 07/09/2001)