Teachers trained to provide multiple subjects in a single classroom

East China's Jiangsu province has created a program to train elementary school teachers who can teach at least three subjects.

These "comprehensive teachers", according to the program, will be able to teach Chinese, mathematics and English. Some can even teach music, painting and physical education.

Li Wei, director of the teacher education school at Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, said some of the students admitted to the university will be chosen for the program.

"The students will be able to teach several subjects combined in one class," said Li.

Under the program, learning mathematics through Chinese lessons, writing poems about painting lessons and singing songs about PE lessons will all become possible.

Several universities, including Nanjing Normal University, Jiangsu Normal University and Huaiyin Normal University have been chosen to join the program to train comprehensive teachers.

Wang Xueqin, principal of Nanjing Shuangtang Elementary School, said that introducing comprehensive teachers will benefit the imagination and creativity of students.

"In primary school, mathematical elements can be found in the Chinese language, and art in Chinese poems," said Wang. "For example, the teachers can use a painting to show what a poem wants to express. Those elements enable the teachers to give lessons in various ways.

"It will also give the teachers a more comprehensive way of expressing themselves to the students and enable them to apply appropriate teaching to each individual student."

Zhang Sulian, dean of the elementary department of Kang Chiao International School in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, was quoted by Yangtze Evening News as saying, "We believe that elementary school students don't need to learn too difficult knowledge. Instead, personality development and life education are of more importance".

The school has introduced the comprehensive teacher mode from Taiwan.

"We hope that the classroom is a home for elementary school students. They have stable emotions when they have a sense of belonging. The comprehensive teachers who teach several subjects can spend more time with the students and influence them on their attitudes toward life and character building," Zhang said, adding that the comprehensive teaching mode has been welcomed by students and their parents.

However, Xie Xiaofu, principal of Nanjing Fangcaoyuan Elementary School, said that introducing the innovative teaching mode to all elementary schools may not be practical.

"Most of the classes in China's elementary schools have more than 40 students. Teaching several subjects and taking care of all the students is not easy for any teacher, even if specially trained," Xie said.

"Also, Chinese society pays too much attention to academic study. A teacher who just teaches Chinese or mathematics is under great pressure from parents and their schools, let alone those who teach several subjects."

In 2014, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, introduced the comprehensive teaching mode in some of its elementary schools. Henan province this month put forward a plan to start training its first batch of 1,000 comprehensive teachers.

Contact the writers at cangwei@chinadaily.com.cn