context: The gaokao is a critical juncture for students, above all for those from less affluent families. The PRC introduced ‘Opinions on deepening the examination and admission reform’ in September 2014, aiming to revolutionise the education system by prioritising quality over traditional exam-focused methods. MoE (Ministry of Education) aimed to overhaul the gaokao by 2020, but faced delays and issues such as inequitable distribution of educational resources.
The key to reforming the new gaokao is abandoning the division between humanities and sciences. Reform urges university admissions to use gaokao scores, high school performance and a holistic assessment of student qualities. Huai Jinping 怀进鹏 MoE (Ministry of Education) minister reports that 29 provinces have rolled out this gaokao reform in five stages. Yet, 17 provinces remain, including 15 from recent pilot phases and Tibet and Xinjiang, which have not commenced reform.
Huai points out that central and western provinces, along with populous regions, run into several hurdles in implementing the reform. These include inadequate funding, facilities and shortages in K-12 school classrooms, teachers and resources. The MoE intends to provide additional guidance and financial aid to lagging provinces, aiming to improve the infrastructure and staffing of regular high schools, with extra emphasis on county-level institutions.
Equity in educational access across provinces and between urban and rural areas is a focal concern. Reforms since 2014 have improved admission rates for central, western and populous provinces by reallocating national enrolment quotas to these regions. Additionally, key universities have admitted around 1.1 million students from rural and previously impoverished areas, indicates Huai.
The new gaokao has cut back on the bonus points system by decreasing the bonus categories and values. It has also refined the recruitment structure for university majors by expanding admissions in sciences, engineering, ag and medicine. Special initiatives like Tsinghua's Mathematical Sciences Leadership Talent Training Program have been launched for exceptionally talented students.
The vocational gaokao has also become a key admissions path for vocational colleges, growing from 20 percent in 2014 to over 60 percent currently. Huai acknowledges the challenges due to the diverse skill requirements across industries and the rapid evolution of technical skills and equipment. These hurdles can negatively impact the practical and safety aspects of hands-on vocational exams.
MoE will focus on leveraging modern information technology to boost practical skill evaluations in exams, according to Huai. ‘The gaokao reform encompasses a broad spectrum of issues and complex interests, rendering it impractical to expect a quick and definitive solution,’ notes Huai.