Nanfang Metropolis Daily:

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress stated that we would advance comprehensive education reform and refine the systems for school management and educational assessments.. What measures will the MOE take to improve the educational evaluation system in the future? Thank you.

Huai Jinpeng:

I would like to invite Mr. Liu Zicheng to answer your question about educational evaluation reform.

Liu Zicheng:

I'm happy to answer this question. Educational evaluation influences the direction of education development and guides its orientation. On Sept. 28, 2020, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued an overall plan for deepening educational evaluation reform in the new era, making comprehensive arrangements for addressing deep-rooted problems known as the "five-only" malady, which means an overemphasis on test scores, admission into higher-level education institutions, diplomas, number of published papers and prestigious titles when evaluating students, teachers and schools. General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to educational evaluation reform and emphasized the importance of implementing the overall plan. 

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress set out new requirements for refining the educational assessment system. During the fifth group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping further stressed the need to deepen the reform of educational evaluation in the new era and build a world-class evaluation system that features multiparty participation and conforms to China's reality. Since the overall plan was issued, the MOE has worked with other relevant departments to take a series of measures to resolve the "five-only" malady. Overall, we have gotten off to a good start in educational evaluation reform. Substantial achievements have been made at the current stage, and a broad-based consensus has been reached on addressing the "five-only" malady. The system of supporting policies and institutions has steadily improved at the national level. Many regions and schools have developed many successful experiences and practices. China's educational evaluation reform has also had a significant international impact.

In the new era and on the new journey, our work enters a crucial period during which we must further promote educational evaluation reform and make more substantive progress. Next, to build China's strength in education, we will destroy the old and build the new, focusing on the latter. We will pursue educational evaluation reform as the initial step, and then promote reform in a coordinated manner in the ways students are cultivated, in the modes schools are run, and in the management system and support mechanisms. All these will boost our vitality and add fresh impetus to accelerating efforts to build a leading country in education. To be specific:

First, we will make greater efforts to raise public awareness. We will guide people to establish a scientific outlook on talent, personal careers, and education in the whole society and reverse the utilitarian trend in education. Second, we will improve supporting policies and establish a sound educational evaluation system covering all academic stages and education types. This will help remove the last crucial hurdle in the reform process. Third, we will follow role models and give full play to community-level reform and innovation as a new fountain of strength. We will also effectively carry out pilot reforms and intensify publicity to promote the good experience of models. Fourth, we will strengthen supervision and rectification. Greater efforts will be made to supervise and monitor any violations of the overall plan. Violators will be urged to rectify their problems in time. By doing so, we will ensure that all the directives are executed without fail. Fifth, we will nurture a sound environment that features equal opportunities, favorable public opinion, harmonious families, and a culture of integrity and trustworthiness. This will create favorable conditions for the smooth and steady progress of reforms.

Thank you.