Beijing school's reform blazes trail(2)

The curriculum reform has been a positive change not only for students, but teachers as well.

Wang Aili, who teaches biology at the school, said that teachers' responsibility formerly was merely to teach and help students get high exam scores.

"But now, they have to do more. We are still teachers, but at the same time, we are playing many other roles: supervisors, advisers, guides and companions," she said.

Wang said their responsibilities now are more about communicating with students, helping them to study on their own and solve problems, and engaging them in more practical activities.

"Under these circumstances, the relationship between we teachers and the students is more harmonious, and students feel much closer to us," Wang said. Many students now even send her messages to share their accomplishments and express their gratitude, which did not happen before the curriculum reform, she said.

With more choices in the curriculum and a more harmonious relationship with teachers, students at Beijing National Day School are increasingly satisfied with their school life, said Li, the principal.

In a survey of the students in 2013, 95 percent said they were satisfied with the curriculum system, their relationship with teachers and study partners, the teaching sources and facilities, and the way the school was organized and managed.

Shen Jiliang, deputy director of the Education Ministry's basic education department, said Beijing National Day School has set a good example and can be spread among schools nationwide.

"The student-oriented teaching mode pays attention to the differences among individuals and creates opportunities for each student to become talented," he said.

Xiong Bingqi, vice-president of 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the curriculum reform of Beijing National Day School reduces the school's interference and grants more autonomy to students, which in return brings out more of their potential. But he still had concerns.

"Ostensibly, it seems that the successful experience of curriculum reform in Beijing National Day School, including the way that students select their own courses and move among classrooms to have classes with students of different grades, can be easily copied and followed by many schools across the country," he said.

"However, we should understand that reforming the curriculum alone is far from enough, and we also need to reform the way students are evaluated. If gaokao results still remain the only standard to evaluate students and select talent, the curriculum reform will not make much difference among schools nationwide."

The Ministry of Education understands Xiong's concerns.

Shen said the ministry is working on a draft plan to reform the college entrance examination and the post-exam recruitment, and the evaluation of students will focus on their overall quality.

"We are also setting new standards for high schools across the country to carry out their own curriculum reform," he said.