While American students waste thousands of hours learning fake science, and pronouns, China is intensely training their own. The future will be Chinese if Biden and the Democrats continue to control this nation past the election.
This year’s gaokao series has seen a record-breaking number of students registered for the high-stakes tests, with the Ministry of Education reporting 13.42 million candidates. This number reflects the immense pressure and expectations placed on students as they embark on what many consider the start of their adult lives.
China gears up for college entrance exam as transportation, noise control measures put in place
Multiple measures have been put in place across China to ensure a smooth and successful college entrance exam, known as the gaokao, which starts on June 7. According to the Ministry of… pic.twitter.com/zDgqNOPdWg— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) June 7, 2024
Zhi Haihong, a 50-year-old mother, exemplifies the cultural significance and hope attached to the gaokao. Donning a traditional qipao dress in bright red for its auspiciousness, Zhi escorted her daughter to an examination site in central Beijing. “People say that this is the start of a life,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of not slacking off during this critical period.
The gaokao tests high school students on various subjects, including Chinese, English, mathematics, science, and humanities. These exams are crucial for university admissions in China. The expansion of higher education over recent decades, spurred by economic growth, has raised both living standards and parental expectations for their children’s futures.
However, the job market for new graduates is no longer as promising as it once was. China’s post-pandemic economic recovery is sluggish, and youth unemployment is a growing concern. Despite these challenges, Zhi views the gaokao as an essential rite of passage. “I think this is a necessary process of growing up,” she said, adding that it’s a method for the country to identify talented individuals. She believes that experiencing pressure builds mental resilience, preparing young people for future societal challenges.
Widely considered a symbol of good luck, colorful clouds filled the sky in southwest China’s Yunnan Province on June 7, adding extraordinary blessings as the day marked the beginning of the 2024 national college entrance exam, or Gaokao. May all students shoot for the stars! pic.twitter.com/Xhu67Hs8V0
— People’s Daily, China (@PDChina) June 7, 2024
On social media, the gaokao dominated conversations. On Friday morning, top-trending topics on Weibo were filled with exam-related discussions. Users shared images of uniformed students high-fiving and hugging their parents before entering testing centers. Even China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe’s official Weibo account chimed in with words of encouragement: “Every one of you that is striving hard is terrific.”
Across the country, scenes of support and preparation were evident. In Wuhan, parents gathered behind barriers as students, clutching their documents, entered examination centers. Education authorities remain vigilant each year due to past incidents of elaborate cheating. Consequently, areas around testing centers are tightly controlled, with traffic diverted and honking prohibited to ensure a conducive environment for the students.
In Beijing, 45-year-old Sun Song expressed a more relaxed attitude. After seeing his daughter off, he remarked, “It will be enough if she can find a job she likes and get into a school she likes. As long as the kid is happy, it’s enough.”
One of the more unique stories is that of 57-year-old millionaire Liang Shi, who is attempting the gaokao for the 28th time. Despite his success in the business world, Liang aspires to be recognized as an intellectual by gaining admission to Sichuan University. His determination has been widely followed in the media and online, and he hints that this might be his final attempt.
The 2024 national college entrance examination, known as the gaokao, started on Friday. A total of 13.42 million examinees have registered for the exam, regarded as one of the most important for Chinese students. #ChinaInspires pic.twitter.com/5rYYSOTRn0
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) June 7, 2024
Another notable case is 35-year-old Xu Mengnan, who is taking the gaokao again 16 years after deliberately failing it in protest against the education system. Since then, Xu has worked in factories, married, had children, divorced, and eventually returned to his studies in 2017. He passed the gaokao in 2018 and graduated from an art college last year. This year, Xu aims to further his education by securing admission to a university.
The gaokao continues to be a defining moment in the lives of millions of Chinese students, embodying the hopes, pressures, and aspirations of a nation.
Major Points:
- Record number of 13.42 million students registered for China’s gaokao exams this year.
- Parents and students alike perceive gaokao as a crucial milestone, symbolizing the beginning of adult life.
- The exams cover subjects such as Chinese, English, math, science, and humanities, determining university admissions.
- Despite economic challenges and high youth unemployment rates, gaokao is seen as a necessary rite of passage for personal growth.
- Notable stories include a 57-year-old millionaire attempting the gaokao for the 28th time and a 35-year-old revisiting the exams after 16 years to pursue further education.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News