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A lot expected from education reform

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-05 08:41

The 11th Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) replaced former minister of education Zhou Ji with Yuan Guiren. The news drew wide public attention because education is closely related to people's life and they pin high hopes on the educational reform, says an article in Guangzhou Daily. Excerpts:

It is not new for the NPC to appoint and dismiss officials. But the recent change of the minister of education has raised many an eyebrow. The reasons are obvious.

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First, education is closely related to people's life. They pay attention to education with an eye on their children's future. In a way, the change of the minister of education reflects the current situation of China's education.

To be fair, the country made big progress on the education front during Zhou Ji's term in office, though problems such as unscientific educational assessment, abuse of administrative power, unfair distribution of educational resources and academic cheating remain.

Premier Wen Jiabao said earlier this year: "Why are there so many complaints and worries about the country's education? We should know that our education can't meet the requirements of the fast-growing economy?"

That may well be a reason for a turnaround.

The reaction to the change in the education minister also shows people pin high hopes on the country's educational reform. For example, netizens have been prompt to check and spread the new minister's resume and political ideas on websites.

China's education is facing the test of the times. Departments related to education are working on mid- and long-term reform schemes. And we expect a lot from the new minister of education and educational reform.

(China Daily 11/05/2009 page9)