Shanghai and BJ Introduce Measures to Improve Education Quality
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Shanghai
Students of Shanghai Liaoyuan Bilingual School go back to school in Shanghai, on Sept 1, 2020. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/chinadaily.com.cn]
Shanghai set targets to significantly improve school education quality at primary and junior middle schools while thoroughly standardizing out-of-school education training by 2023, according to a document released on Tuesday.
The document, which came in line with the country's policy of reducing burdens from school assignments and out-of-school classes for primary and junior middle school students, was published in July. It aims to strengthen the role of schools and regulates out-of-school education institutions.
The document said schools need to elevate the quality of school assignment design and control the total amount of homework.
It said primary schools shall not assign homework to first- and second-graders. The average duration of third- to fifth-graders and junior middle school students spending on homework every day should not exceed 60 minutes and 90 minutes, respectively.
"The content of exams shouldn't exceed what has been taught," the document reads.
It also specified that after-class service lasting no less than two hours shall realize full coverage at all such schools within one year.
The document also made clear that online training for preschool children aged between 3 and 6 is prohibited. Offline training in school subjects, including foreign languages, also is banned for children in this age range.
Beijing
Students take a class at a middle school in Beijing, March 1, 2021
Primary and secondary school teachers in Beijing's public school system will be required to participate in the rotation plan to further improve education equity and quality in Beijing.
Li Yi, spokesman of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, said at a news conference on Wednesday that teachers and principals who have worked in the same school for more than six years will be asked to transfer to schools in another region to share their knowledge and experience with new colleagues and students.
Educators who are five years or more away from retirement and have worked in the same school for more than six years are eligible to participate in the plan.
"The rotation program aims to bring high-quality education resources to more schools in the city," Li said.
"Districts with weak teaching talent can get better support via methods such as dual-teacher classes during the program."
The new policy encourages qualified educators to move, for instance, higher wages and rotation participation are considered as factors when considering promotion.
Teachers who have changed schools say the plan has both challenges and opportunities.
"There are distinctions in students from different schools," said Li Baoping, an English teacher at Beijing Huiwen Middle School in Dongcheng district.
Li transferred to a school in Chaoyang district last September.
"In the process of handling the changes, my abilities in teaching and communication have improved," she said.
Lin Ming, President of the Hongshan branch of Beijing Huiwen Middle School, said making rotation participation part of promotion assessments provided a platform for young and middle-aged teachers to develop.
Yuan Xin, the mother of a 13-year-old student, said new teachers at a school may introduce fresh teaching methods and stimulate students' interest in learning.
"We hope the policies can reduce children's burden and give them more time to explore what they like," Yuan said. "They can schedule their time better as they grow up."
Yu Chen, 36, whose eldest son studies at Shijia primary school, welcomed the policy and said it was a better use of educational resources.
"Beijing has issued a lot of educational reforms in recent years that have been very helpful to the overall development of children," she said.
Some areas in Beijing have begun to implement the plan. Dongcheng District Education Department said that all qualified teachers in the district will rotate in the next three years.
Miyun District officials also announced that they had arranged for 50 educators to participate in this year's rotation.
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