CEE should be more open

When implementing the confidentiality regulation of the college entrance examinations (CEE), related departments should take a more positive attitude in facing possible public inquiries, according to an article in the China Economics Times. An excerpt follows:

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education has stipulated that educational institutions must not release CEE questions and grading criteria to the media, nor make any comments on the examination questions within three months after the examination.

This year, Beijing is one of the regions that set the examination standards themselves rather than using the national papers.

Undeniably, such a stipulation has its positive side. Unpleasant situations can be avoided when participants are affected seeing examination questions and standard answers published by some media right after each test. Besides, there will not be any commercial deal between educational organizations and media on buying the publishing rights.

But the three-month restriction is quite doubtful. Three months later means early September, by which time college enrolment is almost completed. That means related departments cannot make any comments before the participants' fates are decided.

What if there were really something wrong with the test questions and grading criteria?

The administrative ban on commenting on the CEE papers can only work for municipal and district educational organizations. The public should still be able to challenge the CEE questions and answers. Media are also entitled to report such doubts. Would the authorities remain silent if public disputes and media reports trigger controversy about the CEE?

Official comments coming three months later make no sense for participants.

The CEE is certainly authoritative and serious, but it is still a public issue. The test questions and standard answers should be supervised by the general public. Related departments are responsible for accepting public scrutiny. A rational attitude should be given explicit explanation based on thorough investigation and take remedial actions if problems arise.

Last year in East China's Jiangsu Province, a math professor discovered a problem in the standard answers to the national CEE math paper and requested the Test Centre under the Ministry of Education apologize. But the authorities just gave an ambiguous reply and refused to comment. The lack of an authoritative explanation more or less disappointed the participants of the CEE and the public.

The CEE scores are of vital importance in college enrolment. The educational authorities should sustain the credibility of the test without stalling the public.

Source: China Daily