In today’s talking points: China set to restructure the high school entrance exam; China’s education sector value projected to double within the next 4 years; Soaring figures on international student enrolments in Australia; Internet as an easier option for Chinese education.
China set to restructure the high school entrance exam
China’s Ministry of Education has issued a guideline this month to implement a pilot program that sees the reform of the high school entrance exam. The pilot program is set to be introduced in 2017 and expanded nationally in 2020. It will focus on a broader range of student’s skills and qualities rather than being based solely on their exam scores. The reform will encourage students to innovate and participate in other areas like sports and artistic talents. It is hoped that the change in the requirements will allow for more of a diversity in options and opportunities for students to succeed.
Read more at: China.org
China’s education sector value projected to double within the next 4 years
It is projected that China’s population under the age of 30 will spend on average 12.5% of their overall consumption growth on education. With the rise in domestic consumption, education growth will be resilient amid the economic slowdown within the economy as the country shifts away from a manufacturing based growth. Chinese households spend on average approximately 30% of their income on education. With the country’s per capita income continually growing, the education sector is projected to nearly double in value to $450 billion by 2020.
Read more at: Seeking Alpha
Soaring figures on international student enrolments in Australia
International students heading to Australia continue to grow – 11% during the first seven months of 2016. According to the Education Department, the numbers reflect the good reputation of Australia’s international education sector, and its reputation abroad is skilling people from all over the world, providing 130,000 jobs and represents income for Australis accommodation, hospitality and services sectors. The Simplified Student Visa Framework that came into effect from July is easing visa applications and leading to growth in international students enrolments.
Read more at: SBS News
Chinese parents are becoming ‘obsessed’ about their children obtaining the highest grades regardless of whether or not they comprehend the subject matter. This mentality is strong in China – according to an OECD survey taken back in 2014, it showed that teenagers in Shanghai, for instance, take an average of 14 hours per week to complete their homework, highest of any school system in the world. Internet becomes popular for Chinese e-retailers to promote their ‘homework services’ to have students’ assignments completed. Reform in China’s education system to place greater emphasis on comprehension and creativity may be a solution to force homework services out of business.
Read more at: Global Times