Bǔ kè

Buke (Chinese: 补课; pinyin: bǔ kè) in the high schools of mainland China refers to the social phenomenon of extra study for the improvement of students’ academic performance in National Higher Education Entrance Examination (commonly known as Gaokao) in the form of extra mandatory classes organized by high schools or private tutoring provided by cram school.

Bǔ kè
Buke prepares students for the National Higher Education Entrance Examination. A 2013 banner at Chongqing Nankai Secondary School announcing it as an examination venue.
Chinese补课

Types

Generally, Buke in high schools of mainland China are of two types:

  • Extra mandatory classes. In most cases, high schools arrange such classes for students on weekends and holidays, which may follow the ordinary schedule; or in some areas, students will be asked to study in school for extended hours.[1] In a typical Chinese test-prep factory, Maotanchang High School, students will have their three-hour free time on Sunday afternoon every week ).[2]
  • Cram school. The main feature of private tutoring is that it is optional, depending on factors such as personal willingness, study situations, and family economic conditions.[3] Yu (2012) suggests that private tutoring mainly consists of three forms “(a) one-to-one private tutoring, (b) small groups of students with one tutor, and (c) private tutoring in a large class setting.”[4]

Reasons
Examination-oriented educational system and result-oriented educational ideology
A student’s score in Gaokao is the main standard for admission to university, and the competition has intensified over the years.[5] Being admitted to a top-class university is considered as the ultimate success for students, at least in teachers' and parents' views.[6] Students, parents, teachers, and schools all want to improve the students’ score in any possible ways, including extra classes either in school or in private institution.[7]
Unbalanced and insufficient distribution of educational resources.
High schools vary in different levels. Lower-level schools lack outstanding teachers, while private educational institutions provide opportunities for students in lower-level schools to get high-standard education.[8]

Almost every year, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China issues official documents which emphasize the prohibition of any forms of Buke organized by state-run schools. In Opinions Concerning the Implementation of the Compulsory Education Law to further regulate which was issued after the emendation of the Compulsory Education Law in 2006, the Ministry of Education points out that it is banned for teachers in state-run schools to encourage either intramural or extramural Buke. Teacher participation in the extramural Buke in their part-time is also strongly opposed.[9]

Despite the prohibition of Buke by state-run schools, there is no national regulation for Buke organized by private schools or educational establishments. However, the regulations made by some local governments at different levels did affect them. In February 2015, Wenzhou City Board of Education issued Disposal Options of Wenzhou for Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Paid Buke, for teacher's attendance in paid Buke is officially considered unprofessional conduct. For the first time, this regulation related to teachers in private-run primary and secondary schools, hence it is called “the toughest regulation on Buke”.[10] According to a clerk working in an educational establishment, the teachers in Wenzhou no longer attend extramural Buke after the implementation of the disposal options.[11]

Debate

While some parents, students, and educators support buke for the opportunity to retain learning through holidays and to work out difficult problems for which there is no time during normal classes,[12][13] others oppose the practice as overly stressing academic performance and increasing stress on students.[14][15][16]

See also

References
  1. 鄉村補課現象難禁 怕拉大與城裡學校差距不得不補
  2. Inside a Chinese Test-Prep Factory Available online 23 Mar 2015
  3. 中國城鎮學生教育補習的實證分析
  4. Does private tutoring improve students’ National College Entrance Exam performance?—A case study from Jinan, China Available online 23 Mar 2015
  5. 高考大省考生增減都煩惱 高考競爭激烈難緩解 Available online 23 Mar 2015
  6. 品格比學分重要 父母應改變心態 Available online 23 Mar 2015
  7. 城市義務教育階段課外補習研究 Available online 23 Mar 2015
  8. 高中生教育補習支出：影響因素及政策啟示
  9. 教育部關於當前加強中小學管理規範辦學行為的指導意見 Available online 23 Mar 2015
  10. 民办学校教师首次被严禁有偿补课 民辦學校教師首次被嚴禁有償補課 Available online 23 Mar 2015
  11. "溫州推最嚴"禁補令"去年47教師有償補課被查". Archived from the original on 2015-03-15. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  12. 教育部頒佈補課禁令10年 學生和家長稱形同虛設 Available online 10 Apr 2015
  13. 部分中學寒假補課 兩派網友意見不一激烈辯論 Available online 10 Apr 2015
  14. 部分中學寒假補課 兩派網友意見不一激烈辯論 Available online 10 Apr 2015
  15. 補課or不補課：網路大V發起討論 家長學生舌戰激辯 Available online 10 Apr 2015
  16. 補課or不補課：網路大V發起討論 家長學生舌戰激辯 Available online 10 Apr 2015
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