Preschool kids need new ideas, not old rules
Updated: 2015-03-26 08:22
By Xiong Bingqi(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Liang, a male kindergarten teacher, assists the kids in outdoor activities. Playing games is an important way to teach but also a tiring job for the teachers. [Photo/CFP] |
Beijing education authorities launched inspection tours of kindergartens this week to ensure that children are not overburdened with schoolwork.
Although Chinese, mathematic and English are supposed to be taught to primary school students, it is not uncommon to see preschool-age children across China being forced to study these subjects. Preschool education should focus on cultivating children's behavior rather than focusing on books, because forcing children to learn primary school lessons in a kindergarten could reduce their interest in learning.
In 2012, the Ministry of Education told kindergartens not to burden pupils with schoolwork on the pretext of holding special or experimental classes. The ministry also directed kindergartens not to assign homework to preschool children. But in practice, few local education authorities and kindergartens have followed the rule. Some kindergartens claim to abide by the regulation but still teach preschool children Chinese, math and English.
Fully implementing this regulation, therefore, has become difficult.
First, despite the educational authorities reiterating that children should be admitted to neighborhood primary schools without taking any test, there is still competition for admission, because the number of applicants exceeds the available seats. Primary schools that cannot admit all the applicants have to set some criterion to select the children, and the most common one is to test their knowledge.
If the ministry's directive were to be followed in letter and spirit, parents would have to send their children to social training institutions, which will fail to reduce the pressure of studies on children. In addition, it will increase parents' anxiety and economic burden. So, simply directing kindergartens not to teach pupils primary school lessons is not enough.
Besides, social training institutions cannot be stopped from teaching preschool pupils primary school lessons or subjects, because the ministry's directive applies only to schools and kindergartens within the public education system. Many preschool social training institutions are supervised by industrial and commercial bureaus, not the education authorities.
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |