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Five million sit on college entrance exam nationwide
( 2002-07-06 09:21 ) (1 )

More than 5 million Chinese students set out with the purpose of passing the national college entrance exam on Sunday and Monday after a decade of intensive study. [newsphoto.com.cn] Parents wait anxiously outside a Beijing school as their children take part in university entrance exams on July 7, 2002. It is learned next year's exams will take place one month earlier to escape usually the calender's steamiest month. This year, about 52% of the 5.8 million candidates are expected to receive higher education. [Reuters]

More than 5 million Chinese students set out with the same purpose on Sunday and Monday after a decade of intensive study -- to pass the national college entrance exam.

The exam is viewed by many as a turning point in their lives -- and something they cannot afford to fail -- to open the door to their choice of the country's higher learning institutions.

Previously, China's college entrance examinations were held every year from July 7-9, dubbed by students as "Black July'' due to the immense pressure they felt at the time.

Starting this year, the examinations last only two days and candidates will sit for four tests, including Chinese, English and Mathematics. In addition, elective tests have been prepared for art and science applicants.

About 250,000 more students will be accepted to colleges and universities this year thanks to the government's continuing expansion of college enrolment. Altogether, 2.75 million, or 52 per cent of the people taking the examination, will gain entry to institutions of higher learning.

The generous enlargement of enrolment in recent years has satisfied more young people's desire for higher education. The move is in response to the growing market demand, as well as part of the efforts of invigorating the country through science and education.

A Ministry of Education spokesman said students from poor families will be able to realize their university dreams with financial assistance from universities, governments and other organizations.

The ministry urged provincial education authorities to make sure all financially strapped students who pass the college entrance examination will get adequate aid to attend university.

During the past few years, university tuition has been increasing at an annual rate of about 30 per cent, far higher than the increase in the average family income.

An investigation revealed about 10 per cent of university students have difficulties paying their tuition fees.

To solve the problem, universities have created scholarships, part-time jobs and allowances for those students.

But the numbers needing such aid far outweigh the amount of assistance on offer at present.

The spokesman added that other support schemes for impoverished students, such as different types of bank loans, are being set up to allow more of them to go to university.

The exams have been a focus for the nation, not just students, this year to make sure examinees have as much success as possible.

Since early June, all construction sites in Beijing have been banned from working from 10 pm to 6 am to reduce noise that might disturb high school graduates preparing for the examination, under a Beijing municipal government stipulation.

In northwest Shaanxi province, seriously hit by floods in its southern part, students are still on course to sit the exam, according to Li Quanzhi, an official with the provincial enrolment office.

Li said, in the past week, the office sent a working group to southern Shaanxi to supervise the preparation work for the exam -- and everything is on schedule thanks to local government efforts.

In Foping County, worst hit by the flood on June 8, students taking the exam have been relocated away from the disaster area near Foping High School, the exam site, Li said.

Local officials have taken all necessary precautions, including installing a generator for English listening exam, just in case the power supply fails.

In Guangdong, the flood that plagued most areas of west and north Guangdong Province began to subside on Thursday, and the restoration and sanitary work are now in process, according to the local Control and Drought Relief Bureau.

Luckily, the bureau said no schools had reported flood damage.