Number of candidates registering for gaokao reaches new high of 12.91 million
The number of candidates registering in 2023 for the gaokao, the national college entrance exam, has reached a new high of 12.91 million people, an increase of 980,000 from 2022, the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday.
The China Meteorological Administration
To optimize services and ensure a comfortable examination environment, the
Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the China Meteorological
Administration and other departments, will closely analyze information on
extreme weather and natural disasters during the examination period, guiding
localities to further improve their emergency response plans and ensuring they
can respond to emergencies promptly and effectively.
Guidance has also been given on aspects like commuting safety, food and lodging
hygiene, and noise management. Reasonable convenience has been provided for
nearly 10,000 disabled candidates nationwide.
The number of candidates registering for the gaokao has also
sparked heated discussions among netizens. Some people said that the current
number of candidates is far larger than the birth rate, and competition is
becoming too extreme. There are also concerns about whether college degrees
will lose their value and whether employment will become more difficult.
However, observers have pointed out that despite the constant increase in the
number of people taking the college entrance examination in recent years, the
admission rate has also been expanding. Public data shows that the admission
rate has been steadily rising in recent years.
This is because as the number of students increases, the state is also actively
carrying out school construction work. In addition to upgrading the
qualifications of a number of institutions, it is also actively helping schools
develop relevant specialties.
More Diversified Educational
Moreover, the gaokao is not the only way to learn skills and
gain employment opportunities. Not all students are suitable for the
traditional higher education path, as some experts have pointed out. For
students who have special talents or interests in other fields, they should be
provided with more diversified educational and development opportunities.
By 2025, the scale of undergraduate vocational education admissions will be not
less than 10 percent of the scale of higher vocational education admissions.
This goal has been clearly written into the “Opinions on Promoting the
High-quality Development of Modern Vocational Education” issued by the General
Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council
in October 2021, showing the country’s confidence and determination to develop
undergraduate vocational education.
Since the pilot scheme for undergraduate vocational education in 2019, the
state has issued a series of policies to guide and support school construction,
professional settings, teaching staff, talent training, and education
evaluation.
The Individual Development Of Each Student
At the same time, some netizens pointed out that instead of focusing on the
number of candidates, people should pay more attention to the individual
development of each student, not just their qualifications or scores. “Everyone
has their own advantages and interests, and we should respect and support their
personalized development, rather than making them all go down the same path.
This can not only help them find what they truly love but also provide society
with a more diverse pool of talent,” one netizen said.
About E. J. McKay
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