By Junjie Yang
China’s education system has long been driven by a singular goal: success in the Gaokao, the national college entrance examination that defines a student’s academic future. This system, known as exam-oriented education, has shaped the educational direction of the country for decades. However, recent debates have centered on the need for quality education, which promotes a more holistic approach by nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The conflict between these two represents a critical juncture in China’s education reform.
On the surface, exam-oriented education seems to promise fairness. Every student, regardless of their background, faces the same test. For many students not in the city, the Gaokao serves as their only hope for a better future, a narrow, but essential pathway to escape poverty. In provinces like Gansu or Guizhou, where resources are poor, students view the Gaokao as a single beam of light on an otherwise dark educational journey.
However, beneath this veneer of fairness lies a cruel reality: the resources available to prepare for the Gaokao are far from equal. According to a 2019 report from the China Institute for Educational Finance Research, the per-student funding in rural areas can be up to 50% lower than that in urban schools. In many rural schools, resources are often limited. Teachers may be inexperienced, classrooms may lack the latest technology, and students may not have access to additional tutoring or learning materials. For instance, in some rural schools in provinces like Gansu or Guizhou, classes are overcrowded, and teachers may teach multiple subjects due to a lack of staff. Students often use old textbooks and have little access to modern learning tools such as computers or science labs.
