Maximizing Flexibility and Equity in China’s Gaokao Subject Choice System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/awwh7165Keywords:
Gaokao, Subject Choice Reform, Educational Equity, Meritocracy, Secondary - Higher Education AlignmentAbstract
In an attempt to remediate key flaws in China’s Gaokao arts-science subject choice system: early specialization with a fixed structure and a mismatch between secondary-school and college curricular patterns, as well as regional discrepancies in science stream enrollments between rural and urban areas, this paper proposes relevant revisions to improve this system. The proposed changes are informed by cross-cultural experience in education in China’s mainland institutions and in Chinese independent institutions similar to Hong Kong’s International Baccalaureate systems and university-level academic experience in UK institutions. The problems caused in this system, including inflexibility in structure for enforced earlier subject choices and regional discrepancies in science stream enrollments in rural-urban areas in China’s secondary institutions’ rote-style examination preparation and its impact on lack of critical thinking in university performance and thus impingements in its meritocratic ideals and ideals for equal opportunities in education and talent development in systemic overhauls in this paper will address this and contribute to improve this system to better balance systemic features and regional biases.
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