SCORING POINTS
Xu Ruobing, a first-grader at a middle school in Beijing, has seen a significant change in her schoolwork. This change came after the country adopted a series of policies to reduce the excessive burden on students, such as the guideline issued by the central authorities in late July 2021 to further reduce the burden from excessive homework and after-school tutoring for primary and middle school students, also known as the “double reduction” policy.
“See, my English workbook, for example, is much thinner than last semester’s,” Xu told Beijing Review, adding she’s happy now that she has much more free time after school than before and can indulge in her interests, like drawing—which her mother approves of.
“With the new government policies starting to show results, we need to push forward reform so that academic scores are no longer the only focus of schools, parents and students; and children can tap into their full potential and live a colorful life,” Xiong Bingqi, educationalist and head of Beijing-based 21st Century.
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days