Starting from this week, 430,000 students in more than 3,400 primary and secondary schools in east China's Fujian Province will enjoy a revamped curriculum, with information technology and community service courses made compulsory.
According to the local education department, the reform aims to change the former marks-oriented education to an interest-oriented system and develop students' all-round ability.
Besides the curriculum revamp, these schools will also change their teaching method, helping students form an active attitude towards study and encourage their interest in learning.
The province began to try basic educational reform last year in the port city of Xiamen. From this autumn semester, the education department has expanded the trial to other areas, covering 30 percent of its secondary schools and 48 percent of primary schools.
To ensure success, the local government has invested more than two million yuan (US$242,000) in the trial project and trained 3,300 teachers in 18 new courses.
Currently, China has more than 200 million primary and middle school students.
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2002)
