Last Saturday the traffic of the business week faded only to be replaced by a traffic jams of parents in the streets near Beijing No. 8 and No. 35 middle schools and a number of other schools throughout Beijing.
The occasion? National college entrance examinations.
The exams, which take place July 7-9 every year, are necessary for admission into most of China's top universities and are thus considered by most students and parents as a ticket to good job opportunities in the future.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education indicate that more than 4.53 million applicants nationwide are taking part in this year's college entrance examinations.
The number is 650,000 more than the 3.88 million who took the test last year.
This year's test marks a break from the tradition of the previous two decades. Roughly 16,000 participants over the age of 25 are taking the exams this year, including 10 over 60. The oldest test taker is 73.
Previously those above 25 were barred from sitting the national college entrance examinations, but last April the Ministry of Education announced that age and marital status restrictions related to the test would be lifted.
"Removing the restrictions on the age and marital status is a big reform step for the higher education sector. The reform is significant to helping create lifelong learning conditions for the public," said Qu Zhenyuan, director of the ministry's Department for College Students' Affairs.
The changes have been lauded by people over 25 who now have a new chance to fulfill their dream of receiving higher education, said Qu, who was inspecting major schools in Beijing which housed examinees on Saturday.
Critics have complained that the lifting of restrictions will cause problems. Some, for example, have asked how a 60-year-old college student will keep up with younger classmates during sports activities.
Qu responded by claiming colleges and universities can work out flexible timetables that cater to both younger and older students.
In 1999, the state began increasing college enrollment to help drive domestic economic development through educational consumption and provide youngsters with more opportunities to receive a higher education.
Currently, 11 percent of China's high school students go on to college or university. The number is expected to grow to 15 percent by 2005.
(China Daily 07/09/2001)
