Ending college exam bonus marks a fair move

MINISTER OF EDUCATION YUAN GUIREN said in a recent interview that all national-level bonus marks for the annual National College Entrance Exam, or gaokao, will be cancelled in 2015, while over 60 percent of the province-level bonuses will be cut. Bonus marks for students with special abilities, such as sporting prowess, have long been criticized for being unfair. Comments:

When the authorities introduced the bonus marks years ago, they aimed at making the gaokao fairer because some students have special abilities but fail to get high scores in the national exams. Yet, corrupt officials have used loopholes in the policy, and falsified certificates to get the bonus marks for their children. This is a good example of corruption ruining a good policy.

Beijing Times, March 9