In a significant move to enhance the quality of education, China has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at addressing pressing issues in basic education, including campus bullying and excessive homework. This initiative, announced by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, is set to run until the end of the year.
The campaign focuses on regulating and rectifying problems related to safety breaches, disorder in daily management, and faculty misconduct. A detailed list of 12 prohibited practices has been outlined, targeting behaviors such as encroaching on students' scheduled 10-minute breaks, neglecting bullying incidents, and organizing exams with the primary intent of student selection.
Additional prohibited activities include the concealment or mishandling of significant accidents, discrimination against students from vulnerable groups, the use of corporal punishment, and unauthorized fee charging. Local authorities have been instructed to refine this negative list, conduct thorough self-inspections, and implement corrective measures to ensure compliance.
To advance the campaign, authorities will employ various strategies, including conducting research across different cities and counties, appointing inspectors to supervise schools, and providing professional guidance to educational institutions. Furthermore, a supervision and exposure mechanism, along with a reputation evaluation system, will be established to ensure effective enforcement throughout the campaign's duration.
China's education system, which encompasses nearly 500,000 primary and middle schools and kindergartens, faces significant disparities in urban-rural and regional development. These disparities result in notable variations in school management levels across different areas. Shi Zhongying, head of the Institute of Education at Tsinghua University, emphasized that the 12 prohibited behaviors are not new policies but rather serve as reminders of the minimum standards expected. The campaign aims to raise awareness and ensure that school faculty uphold these standards consistently.
According to Shi, the campaign is poised to positively impact the governance and capacity of basic education in the new era, ultimately optimizing the overall ecosystem of the education sector in China.
Reference(s):
China launches campaign to fight key issues in basic education
cgtn.com
