All private and public primary and middle schools in Guangdong province had been prohibited from setting up experimental classes or classes for designated purposes, the Guangzhou Daily reported.

The provincial education department has announced a series of detailed regulations Monday to relieve the burden on pupils and students Monday.

No schools will be permitted to examine students before enrolling them, except art and physical education schools, which can test only a student's performance in art or sports.

All classes designated for Olympic mathematics training and other international competitions must also be canceled. Experimental classes for quick learning students will also be banned.

The new regulations stipulate pupils and students are exempt from any kind of entrance examination before entering primary and junior high schools.

School authorities are also required to abandon the grading system, which gives each student precise marks in exams. Instead, schools will adopt a new grading system, which will categorize students' performances.

Student's academic performances will not count as criteria for promotion for teachers or for upgrading their professional titles, according to the regulations.

The regulations will become effective next year.

(Shenzhen Daily December 8, 2004)