Zhejiang allows students to tailor curriculum

"In the past, China has been pursuing more effective education reforms in an attempt to cultivate students' individuality and creativity. And the key part is increasing the diversity of courses and making them more selective," Ren said.

Yu Bo, a teacher from Hangzhou Greentown Yuhuai School, one of the first four pilot schools in the reform project, applauded the reforms.

"Being limited to a fixed classroom and getting the same education is not a proper way to help students, who have their own strengths and weaknesses," she said.

"Students who are stronger in certain subjects and want to do advanced work can choose a course with some content beyond the normal curriculum. Meanwhile, for students who are weak in some subjects, the most important task is inspiring them rather than simply pumping the knowledge into their brains."

"After one year, we have produced many good results. Many students have seen progress after receiving a tailor-made education," Yu said.

Yu's school conducted a survey of more than 260 parents before the pilot project. Nearly 70 percent supported the reforms. The others opposed it because they believed their children had not yet learned to choose wisely and manage their education themselves. Parents also worried that such an aggressive reform will affect their children's academic performances.

After one year, some parents still worry. "The concept of the new education system is so fresh, and sounds good, so I support it. But I really don't want my child to be a guinea pig," said a woman who declined to be named and whose child is in the first year of a Hangzhou high school.

Ren, the high school principal, said such ambivalence is "understandable".

"Under the current education system, students should take the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, after three years of study, which plays a vital role in their development. Parents don't want to have children affected by any change," he said.