Gao Kao

June 7 and 8 are two holy days for Chinese high school graduates as this is the time when Gaokao, or college entrance exam is held.

It’s really incredible that an exam can become a sensation in such a big country and the whole society is making a fuss about it. A plausible explanation is that it is too important to be neglected. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for the students to be recruited to universities and change their future.

I have sympathy on Chinese students. From kindergarten, they were forced by their parents to learn all kinds of extracurricular skills, regardless of their interest or gift. Then they will experience over ten years of hard work, which is only a preparation for the Last Judgement.

In spite of all their efforts, they are not in a fair play game. Students in provincial capitals seem to have more priority and their way to success isn’t so strenuous as those in small towns. Some with special talents, or various certificates, or being ethnic minorities, or whose parent is somebody…, are all privileged.

Hope some day every test-taker can be judged more fairly and this exam will not be the front page story.