The image of a huge cartoon monkey, wearing a bright red Peking Opera mask, is projected on a school classroom wall behind a plump young man, making soft gestures with his not-so-slim fingers.

The unexpected visitor - a traditional Peking Opera character - causes the 30 students to erupt with excitement.

Ma Yu's drawing class differs from others thanks to the use of videos projected on the wall. The moving images feature Peking Opera stunts, delicate costumes, legendary Chinese figures and complicated weapons. To boost the mood, background music of clanging drums is added.

"I like painting colors on the masks of different Peking Opera figures like the Monkey King," says Wang Jinghao, an 11-year-old boy, closely following the antics of the monkey making faces on the screen.

Fascinated by Peking Opera from the age of 12, Ma discovered a way to share his passion with students at the Nanluoguxiang Primary School - one of the very last alley (hutong) schools in Beijing.

"Peking Opera reflects the unique aesthetic view of the East: implicit, profound and symbolic. The kids should know something about it," says the softly spoken, well-groomed 33-year-old.

Ma was unaware the Ministry of Education had launched a pilot program in late February to introduce Peking Opera into 20 elementary and middle schools in 10 provinces.

The program teaches 15 arias - a solo vocal piece - with the aim to promote and revitalize traditional Chinese culture.

"Why music courses? There are many other ways to teach children about Peking Opera. A drawing course is also a good option," Ma suggests.

The 200-year-old Peking Opera is a synthesis of music, dance, art and acrobatics. It is widely regarded as a Chinese cultural treasure.

The ministry's plan is being questioned by some, who believe the course will further burden already busy students. "And if Peking Opera is included, why not other forms of local opera," the critics say.

Ministry spokesman Wang Xuming stresses that the Peking Opera classes were not compulsory nationwide. Instead, they were pilot programs implemented in certain schools from March to July.

"We chose Peking Opera because it is our national cultural treasure. The pilot will not extend to other local operas," he says.

His words were corroborated by Wu Jiang who selected the 15 arias. "The plan is not aimed to foster Peking Opera artists or fans," says Wu, also the China National Peking Opera Theater president.

"It just opens a door to children, giving them a chance to develop interests in traditional culture. If they are not interested, at least they are getting to know something about it."

Wang Keying, a 7-year-old student at Zhongguancun No. 1 Primary School in Beijing, enjoyed her first Peking Opera class at the start of the new semester.

"I like the course. At least I can watch TV, which my mom never allows me to do except on weekends," the girl says. However she admits she cannot hum a single bar of a Peking Opera aria.

Gao Mukun, a National Peking Opera Theater actor, who has spent 40 years on the stage, says he supports the plan wholeheartedly. "Teenagers are more easily to accept novel things, and so why not help them know more about their own culture?"

When he was 8 years old, he remembers his own fascination with Peking Opera, something that eventually turned into a lifetime career. "It's our cultural heritage from our forefathers. Just like the Great Wall, Peking Opera will exist as long as China."

But not every Chinese is a fan. A poll by Sina.com, the country's top portal website, reveals that less than 30 percent of the 25,000 people surveyed support the ministry's plan.

Zhang Yiwu, a Peking University Chinese literature professor, suggests prudent research should have been carried out on the government plan before it was unveiled to the public.

Zhang offered a proposed "art education package". His proposal includes Peking Opera, and also operas from other parts of China, or even from other countries, as all of these were man's cultural heritage.

It is much easier for those schools lacking Peking Opera teaching resources to handle, and Zhang thinks teacher Ma's class has provided an off-the-shelf solution.

"Why be so restricted by the forms, since the ultimate goal of all art education is to make people's lives beautiful and substantial."

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)