Zhongshan, Guangdong Strictly Prohibits Kindergartens from Teaching Pinyin and Chinese Character Writing to Prevent "Primary Schoolization"
Source: Dayang Network - Guangzhou Daily, September 29, 2010, 03:58
The Education Bureau has issued a ban to strictly prevent the "primary schoolization" of preschool education.
Report by staff reporter Lu Xianxian: The use of primary school textbooks is prohibited, as well as the teaching of advanced mathematics (Olympiad math), abacus mental arithmetic, writing pinyin and Chinese characters, and the assignment of homework related to calculations, writing, and pinyin... Yesterday, we learned from the Education Bureau that the "Notice on Preventing and Correcting the 'Primary Schoolization' Phenomenon in Preschool Education" was officially released, issuing five bans against the "primary schoolization" of kindergartens.
It is reported that some daycare institutions, in order to cater to parents' psychology, have moved primary school teaching content into kindergartens and daycare centers. During normal teaching hours, they conduct lessons on writing pinyin, writing Chinese characters, arithmetic, abacus mental arithmetic, reading classics, and more. Some even assign homework.
To prevent and correct these incorrect practices of some daycare institutions, the Education Bureau recently issued the "Notice on Preventing and Correcting the 'Primary Schoolization' Phenomenon in Preschool Education" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice") to the education offices of various towns and relevant kindergartens. It introduced five strict bans against the "primary schoolization" of preschool education, including prohibiting the use of primary school textbooks and any form of testing or examination. At the same time, it requires all kindergartens to adopt an educational format based primarily on games. Additionally, it aims to guide parents to establish scientific child-rearing concepts to prevent and correct "primary schoolization" teaching behaviors.
According to relevant officials from the Pre-school Management Department of the Education Bureau, the bureau will further strengthen supervision and inspection of the tendency towards "primary schoolization" in preschool education. For kindergartens and daycare centers found to have tendencies towards "primary schoolization" during inspections, warnings will be issued, and they will be required to rectify within a specified period. If the rectification does not meet the requirements, in addition to public criticism, the annual inspection results for the operation of such childcare institutions will also be deemed unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the existence of "primary schoolization" tendencies in kindergartens will serve as an important indicator for grading, excellence evaluations, and selection processes, with a one-vote veto system applied.
Relevant officials stated that a reporting hotline has been set up at 88227366, where parents can lodge complaints.
Bans:
(1) The use of primary school textbooks is prohibited, as well as activities involving the teaching of Olympiad math, abacus mental arithmetic, writing pinyin, and Chinese characters;
(2) Activities dominated by mechanical recitation are prohibited, including read-the-classics activities centered on rote memorization and character recognition activities focused on memorizing strokes or character shapes;
(3) Homework related to calculations, writing, and pinyin cannot be assigned to children, and no form of testing or examination can be conducted;
(4) Kindergartens conducting English specialty education must have full-time teachers with a college degree or above in English. The special curriculum used must be reviewed and registered with the municipal education administrative department according to regulations;
(5) Interest classes cannot occupy normal teaching hours, and their content and forms should conform to the physical and psychological development patterns of young children.