Kids below 6 should not go to school
For the sake of children's health and to guarantee social fairness, the authorities should not allow kids under the age of 6 to be admitted to primary schools, says an article in Zhujiang Evening News. Excerpts:
The Ministry of Education is reportedly planning to deregulate the age limit of children for enrollment in primary schools from 6 years old to "almost 6 years old", sparking a heated public debate.
Some netizens believe that the deregulation may fulfill many parents' wish. But we should stick to the age bar for the sake of children and society as a whole.
Vague policies will result in confusion in management. Since it is difficult to define an "almost 6-year-old", it would become almost impossible to decide the exact cut-off date. Since so many parents are eager to admit their children to primary schools before they are even 6 such a change may result in chaos, with people challenging the fairness of the education system. Therefore, it is necessary to lay down clear rules and implement them strictly.
The deregulation could also prompt parents to get their children admitted to primary schools at an even younger age because they would not want them to lag other kids who enter school earlier. This could give rise to an unhealthy competition, which will only harm children's health and development.
Parents are worried and eager to get into competition because of the pressures of our exam-oriented education. Kids deserve a happy and free childhood, instead of being made to suffer the consequences of our exam-oriented education from a very early age. Hence, the authorities should implement a strict policy on schooling age.
(China Daily 12/10/2009 page9)
