A new policy at Chongqing Municipality's Southwest University has sparked a heated debate among students and faculty alike. The fuss is over the school's announcement that students who read as few as 10 recommended classics and pass an exam will earn two credits toward graduation.
Undergraduates can choose 10 classics from a list, and after completing a report and passing an exam, they will be awarded two credits for the course, China Youth Daily reported Monday.
According to junior Wang Chu, the classics should inspire students and awaken their minds, not be a carrot for obtaining credits.
"Schools should teach students that reading is an important part of life," said Professor Luo Peng from the university's School of Journalism and Communication, adding that it shouldn't be seen as an easy way to earn credit.
A number of students who have already registered for the course could not remember which books they had chosen, and some even admitted that they had not chosen which books to read yet.
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