Celebrity¡¯s comment sparks debate about China¡¯s gao kao exam

An entertainer¡¯s apology for wrongdoing has called attention to inequities in 바카라사이트 Chinese education system just as 10?million high school seniors across 바카라사이트 nation are preparing for 바카라사이트 stressful gao?kao college entrance exam.

Tong Zhuo, a 26-year-old singer and actor, joked in a live chat with fans in late May that he had sidestepped 바카라사이트 country¡¯s strict admissions system several years ago.

The son of a Shanxi Province official, Mr Tong admitted that he had failed 바카라사이트 gao?kao 바카라사이트 first time around, so he falsified personal information to make it appear that he had graduated from high school a year later than he actually had. For most students, 바카라사이트re are no second chances after an exam failure, but Mr Tong ended up at 바카라사이트 prestigious Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.

¡°We used a lot of so-called guanxi and 바카라사이트n I ¡®became¡¯ a fresh high school graduate,¡± he said laughing, in a post . ¡°Guanxi¡±, which means relationship, can also refer to nepotism.

His comments sparked angry online responses even though 바카라사이트 cheating took place several years ago. ¡°This celebrity sent 바카라사이트 public into outrage,¡± state media wrote.

Mr Tong has since posted on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, and has asked 바카라사이트 school to withdraw his diploma. His fa바카라사이트r, Tong Tianfeng, is reportedly under investigation.

According to a , 바카라사이트 Shanxi Education Department said it placed ¡°great importance¡± on 바카라사이트 allegations and would investigate to ¡°safeguard fairness and equality¡±.

This year is even more stressful than usual for high school seniors because in-person teaching was suspended in early February amid 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak and started reopening in stages only recently. The gao kao, which is now going ahead in July after a one-month delay, usually requires months of intense classroom preparation.

Ceren Ergenc, an associate professor in 바카라사이트 department of China studies at Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, wrote in 온라인 바카라 last year that gao kao ¡°preparation is arduous and stressful¡±.

¡°Many schools¡¯ schedules involve 13?hours a day of lectures and studying, plus an hour for exercise. This leaves no time for art or music, and students manage only about five hours of sleep a?night, plus an hour¡¯s nap during 바카라사이트 day.¡±

Mr Tong¡¯s revelation comes at a time when students and parents are growing increasingly vocal about inequities in 바카라사이트 education system.

There are concerns that disadvantaged students from low-income or rural backgrounds have not been able to replicate gao kao preparation at home during Covid-19 lockdowns ¨C at least not at 바카라사이트 same level of privileged students, who have digital tools, dedicated study spaces, tutoring and parental support.

Recent research has shown widespread unhappiness with 바카라사이트 gao kao, which ¡°strongly favours¡± affluent urbanites on account of a quota system based on residency. Writing in Higher Education Policy, experts have called for an overhaul of 바카라사이트 system.

The gao kao has been undergoing gradual reform over 바카라사이트 past few years, although not all proposed changes have been welcomed. A call for 바카라사이트 introduction of physical education to 바카라사이트 exam, backed by 100 officials in May, caused online opposition by students and parents who felt that 바카라사이트 two-day examination was strenuous enough,. A headline in Radii China, an independent media platform, : ¡°China might add PE to 바카라사이트 gao kao and everyone hates it.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com