Can principals give leverage to PKU hopefuls?
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Transtlate Earlier this month, Peking University (PKU) announced a trial recruitment program that favors promising students with recommendations from their high school principals, sparking debate among academia, press and on the internet.
Principals can recommend a fixed number of students showing academic excellence or special talent to interview at PKU, eligible for an extra 30 points added to their national college entrance exam score, points which can make or break college ambitions.
Wang Lizheng, Principal of Yinchuan No. 1 High School, Gansu Province
My school recommends students to major universities every year. We decide based on students' grades and behavioral record. Although principals can recommend students, there are also supervisory mechanisms limiting us. As long as we make the selection process just, fair and open, I believe that PKU's new program will run well also.
Tang Sainan, principal of the Affiliated High School of Jiangxi Normal University
Peking University's motives are good. The program can supplement the present college entrance exam system and provide a new way of recruiting talent. I admire PKU's courage. But I still have reservation about this issue and even feel fortunate that my school is not included in the program. It might be better to let students just take a fair exam rather than recommending them.
'sxnwgfy,' a sina.com netizen
The college entrance exam, though controversial in the sense that scores for applying to university vary from province to province, is the fairest exam in China. The fact that PKU starts this program in a climate of corruption that happens in many places of this country, I am afraid the program might also be susceptible to bribes.
Tang Xunfang, a reporter from China Computer World
Even if this program can be carried out fairly, I really doubt as to the effect it can have. Does 30 points really make a difference? For example, suppose I am a Chinese language genius and can write wonderfully, but I get a zero on the English and math exams. Even though I have talent, I won't be able to get into college anyway, even with the recommendation bonus score. So can this program really selecting true talents rather than another group of bookworms?
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