Only reform can promote quality education

Talking about the 2018 national college entrance examination in a recent video conference, Minister of Education Chen Baosheng forbid local authorities from publicizing the names of the students who receive the highest score. Chen also banned the publicization of the percentage of students from specific senior middle schools clearing the college entrance exam, or gaokao, to curb the tendency of such schools to promote exam-oriented education. And he warned that those who violate these norms will be dealt with seriously.

Hyping the names of the top-scoring students in gaokao, in order to cash in on their popularity has become common in recent years. Top universities use the number of "highest-score students" they enroll to enhance their performance, resulting in severe competition for these students. Besides, media outlets give excessive coverage to such students. Some local authorities, especially education authorities, even include these students' achievements in their political performance, and offer them rewards such as scholarship or free airline tickets.

The ban on publicizing the names of such students shows the ministry's determination to prevent the local authorities and schools from playing up the students' performance to earn brownie points, which has had a negative effect on society.