Extracurricular training does kids no favor

THE EXTRACURRICULAR training agencies for primary and middle school students have entered their busiest season, as parents worry that school education alone will not ensure that their children are winners in the competitive entrance exams and interviews for the key primary and middle schools, most of which are held in June and July. China Youth Daily comments:

The popularity of the after-school training, most of which focuses on rote learning and intensively preparing the trainees for specific exams, has become pervasive to such an extent that the students not receiving such training are regarded as abnormal.

Although China implements nine-year compulsory education and all students can secure a seat in primary and middle schools, the competition to get into some key schools is now cutthroat.