New NCEE dates spark discussion

    “双休高考”引发热议                             

    Wang Yuanyuan

    The Ministry of Education has been contemplating* moving the National College Entrance Examinations (NCEE) to the first weekend in June nationwide since September, causing lively discussion among students, parents and schools.

    The ministry said many suggestions had been received from the public in recent years that the NCEE be held on weekends because it would be more convenient for parents and students.

    Many parents agreed with the suggestion. “It will be very convenient for us to take them to examinations and pick them up because we won’t have to worry about a traffic jam* in rush hour. A traffic jam would make students nervous and this could affect their performance. There would also be less noise from the roads so the environment would be quieter,” said Yan Zi, a mother of a Senior 1 student.

    Every year, many parents take days off and wait outside examination halls to support their children. “A weekend is better because we won’t have to take days off,” Yan said.

    However, many students said they did not care much about the dates. “There is no difference between the first weekend and the 7th and 8th in June because it will not affect our scores and performance anyway,” said Zhong Linlin, a student from Hongling Middle School in Futian District.

    But Zhong said it was good to avoid rush hour. “I read in a newspaper that students miss or almost miss the examination because of traffic jams every year, so it’s better to take the examination when there is not too much traffic. It might be a little bit noisy at schools near commercial areas, so I think it will be better if noisy commercial and social activities can be suspended* that weekend,” Zhong said.

    However, many schools and teachers thought the weekend might not be the best time for the examinations. “Although it will be more convenient for students and parents, it will not be that easy for government departments such as communications, urban management, education and health departments. After all, the NCEE requires large amount of work organized by several departments, so it will be difficult for them to operate if it is not a working day,” Lu Jiang, vice principal of Shenzhen No.2 Experimental School in Luohu District, said.

    Some teachers also thought it was not a good idea for parents to wait outside the halls. “Some students think it is support but, in my experience, many students think it is quite stressful if they know their parents, even the whole family, is waiting outside. And, more parents will come if it is at the weekend so I don’t think it is a good idea for that reason,” said Deng Hui, a teacher from Shenzhen Middle School.