Shanghai shares gaokao reform experiences at exam conference
Shanghai's examination administration held a conference yesterday to share its experiences after the first round of gaokao examinations were held since recent reforms.
The first college entrance examinations in the city since the education ministry gave the green light for reform were held successfully, so Shanghai’s examination administration held a conference Wednesday to share its experiences with domestic colleagues, and to learn from international counterparts.
“As a forerunner of the reform, we also shoulder the responsibility to introduce our new model and experiences with other cities and provinces for the new round of gaokao reform in China,” Zheng Fangxian, president of Shanghai Education Examination Authority, said.
“Meanwhile, we are also looking forward to learning from other countries and professional test organizing institutions around the world to cope with challenges we are facing,” he said.
Zheng pointed out that some countries, like New Zealand and Singapore, had similar economic development histories as China, and had overcome similar challenges, meaning that their experiences may be useful.
Rob Mill, senior manager of the Early Learning and Student Achievement Department of the Ministry of Education in New Zealand, said the conference was also a good opportunity to learn from others and take ideas back to his own country.
“All countries are struggling with making reforms in their education systems because changes have been happening in the world,” he said. “For me, it’s about learning from others, including people from China or Shanghai, and also other experts throughout the world.”
He said helping students become lifelong learners was one of the goals of reform. Learning "does not stop when you leave school, it continues on in the rest of your life.”
