A sharp rise in juvenile delinquency in China has prompted authorities to point the finger at the country's already widely-criticized education system that favors academic excellence over an all-round education that includes working towards good test scores and nurturing creativity, according to a China Youth Daily November 3 report.

 

"The examination-orientated system results in students feeling frustrated with their education, which will bring about a grave trend in juvenile delinquency," Wang Yongyan, a National People's Congress (NPC) deputy, said.

 

Wang made the remarks at a deputies meeting to discuss amendments to the decades-old Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors, which took effect in 1991.

 

According to the newspaper, thirty six percent of middle school students show signs of nervousness, exhaustion, fear, and worry when they prepare to start school, and less than 50 percent actually take an interest in their studies. More significant is that nearly 80 percent cannot bear to face the stress of sitting the College Entrance Examination, believing themselves to be failures.

 

China's education system has come under fire for putting a premium on good test scores that are gained through rote learning. Critics argue that the spoon-feeding of information does nothing to nurture students' creativity. 

 

"There is no indication the system will undergo complete reform, and it is causing students to drop out of school and become juvenile delinquents," Wang said.

 

According to the report, the fact that high test scores translate into higher salaries and better jobs is delaying reform. 

 

According to a poll conducted by China's Ministry of Education, a total of 72 percent of respondents, including parents and teachers, feel that it is most important for students to be able to endure tough situations. In terms of the qualities, a child's performance at school ranks third behind honesty.

 

"We never suffered under such an oppressive environment but we still had a bright future," deputy Zhu Shanping said. "Why do the schools these days press the students so hard?"

 

But Zhu's remarks underscore an increase in the number of teenagers who are facing mounting pressures in relation to education, employment and social welfare.

 

"Students have no time to think and communicate with their parents because they spend so much time studying.

 

"Teenagers should have time for self-development. They should be out in the sun. I suggest making my advice into law," Zhu told the paper.

 

(China Daily November 7, 2006)