How Will the Gaokao Postponement Impact Aspiring Students?

According to Chinas Ministry of Education （MOE）， the national college entrance examination （gaokao）， which is usually held on June 7-8， will be moved to July 7-8 this year， due to the novel coronavirus disease （COVID-19） outbreak. Authorities in Beijing and Hubei Province in central China can suggest their own dates. The MOE says it will ensure students safety and the fairness of the exam.

Prior to the announcement there was speculation whether the gaokao would be delayed， as schools and lives of this years participants have been seriously disrupted by the pandemic. But the national exam is among the most important in the country， an event which decides the course of students lives， so any change in the date was deemed almost impossible.

Students nationwide have been taking classes online due to school shutdowns. However， in some less developed regions online classes are unavailable due to poor Internet or lack of suitable devices. The pandemic has hit this group hardest. This is among the various reasons the MOE fi nally took the decision to delay the examination.

This move has been largely applauded， especially by students and educators. Yet the change will involve complete overhaul of existing structures， causing more disruption for students and schools.

A logical arrangement

Ding Jianting （Nanfang Daily）： The postponement of the gaokao is a positive response to social concern about this extremely important examination， and it will soothe the nerves of this years senior high school graduates. With an extra month， students will fi nd it easier to cope with the heavy academic pressure. Many of them will feel more confi dent about the upcoming examination.

Actually， the gaokao has never been immovable， especially in the face of a force majeure， as shown in earthquakehit areas in Sichuan Province 2008. While the gaokao will be put off by one month nationwide， the MOE will allow Beijing and Hubei to work out their own timelines， given the seriousness of their pandemic situation. This is a logical arrangement， widely supported by students and schools.

Jing Yingzhong （China Education Daily）： In the face of unprecedented disasters like the coronavirus outbreak， people have no choice but to meet challenges head on， just as this years gaokao participants will have to do.

Postponing the gaokao by one month will help to reduce risks from the virus. The gaokao is a large-scale national examination that involves millions of people， and thus health and safety must come fi rst. But the postponement is also in the interests of fairness. The pandemic has affected students to varying degrees， but those in rural and impoverished areas have largely been the most impacted.

This extra month will make up for time lost during school shutdowns， and minimize the negative impact of the virus. For some students， a month is a long time， and they will make the best of this period to better prepare for the exam. Most students will value this extra month before the gaokao.

This pandemic will pass and the gaokao will come. Whether for themselves， their parents or their nation， Chinas students must put this month to good use.

Be more prepared

Xiong Bingqi （Guangming Daily）： This is the first time the gaokao has been postponed， except for the limited adjustment of dates for students in some parts of Sichuan after the devastating 2008 earthquake. This is a decision made in light of the disruption caused by coronavirus control measures and the subsequent delays to the spring semester after the Spring Festival holiday.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been effectively contained across the country， the threat of imported cases remains， and the hidden risk of the virus will still be there when June comes around.

Although virtual classes have been the main form of teaching across the country since February， online education is no substitute for real-life classrooms， where students and teachers are able to have face-to-face interaction. Students with selfdiscipline may emerge better prepared from two months at home， but this is only a fraction of the total student population.

Postponing the gaokao by a month will inevitably change study and revision schemes， which will require schools and students to adjust their planning. It will not only be necessary for schools to adjust the teaching schedule， but they must also offer psychological support for students to help them through the diffi cult time before the gaokao.

Li Zheng （Peoples Daily）： The gaokao is a major event in the national calendar and is of huge importance to students and their families. The examination decides admission to further education， and thus fairness is especially important.

Now that the date has been delayed， it is time to strike a balance as much as possible between pandemic control and teaching. Schools and education authorities should be responsible for preparation and organization for the exam. This is also a test for schools and the authorities. Students who have difficulty accessing online classes should be provided with special assistance， otherwise it is unfair to this group.