Chapter 554: Major Education Reform

Cheng said in a rather heavy tone: "I believe everyone knows that our Huaxia is severely lacking in people. Previously, everyone was lacking, regardless of what you did. Now, however, we are lacking people with various talents. Those who graduate from Advanced School basically all go to various departments. How many students can graduate in a year? There aren't many left who can stay to be teachers. It's still relatively better in Advanced School, but in Primary School, one teacher has to teach more than three hundred students."

"So this is why the elimination rate in schools is so high. Only by eliminating some children who are not suitable for learning, or who are too foolish, can the burden on the schools be reduced."

"This year alone, the number has increased by more than thirty thousand. After a few years, they will all rush into Primary School. By then, it won't be one teacher teaching hundreds of people, but thousands."

Cheng said with a bitter smile: "I get scared just thinking about it. Moreover, there are more students every year than the last. This spring, another batch of students will start school, several thousand of them. There are already not enough teachers, and with students fighting and skipping class every day, and all sorts of problems, I can't even sleep well now, and my hair is almost falling out."

Cheng was not joking. Baifeng, sitting in a high position, could see that Cheng already had the beginnings of a bald spot, which showed that the pressure the school put on him was indeed getting greater and greater.

Cheng said he was describing the current situation of the schools, but it was more like he was complaining. Baifeng naturally had to solve this problem: "Regarding the school issue, I have noticed it for a long time, but in these past few years, internal troubles and external threats have concerned the survival of Huaxia, forcing this matter to be delayed again and again. This year, we will definitely resolve it for you."

Cheng looked at Baifeng with tears in his eyes and anticipation.

"We are going to carry out a major reform of education. First, this Ministry of Education—let's rename it the Ministry of Education. I think this is more in line with reality than the Ministry of Education. Then, the schools will be managed uniformly by the Ministry of Education. Of course, talent is in short supply now, so it's basically just a name for now; it will still take time to actually implement."

Cheng's eyes became even more eager, as if he had seen the hope of his own liberation.

"In order to let Huaxia develop better and faster, and to provide children with better and more suitable education, from now on, let's just have them start school directly at four years old, designated as Kindergarten."

"Ah? King, I'm afraid this won't work, we don't have the manpower!" Cheng could no longer care that Baifeng was still speaking; he stood up in a panic. He felt that if Baifeng's plan were followed, he would not be far from being worked to death.

Baifeng pressed his hand down and smiled, asking Cheng to sit down: "Don't be anxious, there are ways."

"This Kindergarten is a two-year system. After reaching six years old, they enter school directly. In these two years, there is no need for any assessment or elimination, nor is there a need to teach the children any knowledge. It is mainly to teach the children principles of conduct and to establish a civilized worldview for them, especially regarding etiquette. There is even less need to worry about teachers, because there is no need to teach much knowledge, so just select those who graduated from Intermediate School but failed to get into Advanced School."

"Then bring in some women who are good at taking care of children. They don't need to be literate; their main job is to look after the children so that the children's parents can stop worrying about their children and go to work with peace of mind, and it can also ensure the children's safety."

Cheng let out a long sigh of relief. Although this was called a school, it didn't seem to have much to do with a school; it was more like a place to look after children. He finally wasn't so scared anymore.

"After six years old, they enter school. The school curriculum also needs to be enriched. In addition to Mathematics and literacy, we must add Physical Education, Art, and Handicrafts. Teachers can be recruited from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works. With a richer curriculum and children learning more things, the pressure on you other teachers will also be reduced."

"Then there is the grouping of classes. Teachers can take turns teaching, giving teachers time to rest. When the number of teachers is sufficient, Primary School will no longer implement an elimination system. If they fail the year-end exam, they will repeat the grade. After repeating for three years, they will then be eliminated and forcibly withdrawn from school."

Baifeng's words left Cheng feeling dizzy. It wasn't that he didn't understand Baifeng's words, but for him, the ups and downs were too great, one after another, scaring him until his head felt a bit dizzy.

"Primary School is a three-year system, which means that even the slowest child can study for six years. After six years, they will be twelve years old. Even if they leave school, they will have the ability to learn a skill and go to work, rather than leaving school unable to do any work, spending their days at home or wandering around aimlessly."

"Intermediate School is two years, which is the same as before, but the curriculum must add some courses in Medicine, Agriculture, and Engineering. Even if it's just one class every seven days, as long as the children know what they like and what they are suitable for, it will be easier for them to make choices when they are in Advanced School later."

Baifeng's measures were all aimed at alleviating the pressure on school teachers, because the teachers for the newly added courses would be transferred from other departments, so naturally, it would not have a negative impact on the previous teachers.

"Those who graduate from Primary School successfully but fail to get into Advanced School can be recruited as teachers, because since they were able to graduate successfully, there is at least no problem with them teaching Primary School students. As for the teachers for Intermediate School, you will have to train them yourselves. You old teachers can also open courses in Advanced School specifically to teach how to teach and lead students. I believe many people want to be a teacher."

"The last point, and also the most important point, is the training in Advanced School. From now on, the focus must be placed on Medicine. There are too few doctors in Huaxia, and their pressure is even greater than yours as teachers. Therefore, the course selection in Advanced School, or what they study, must be changed to a competitive system. Only those who score higher in the entrance exam will have the qualifications to choose what they want to study. Those with lower scores will go where people are needed."

"In the future, for every department in Advanced School—Liberal Arts, Engineering, Medicine, Mathematics, Agriculture, as well as the Science opened in Changle, and this Education that you will open later—the annual enrollment quota must be divided according to the degree of shortage. Once the quota is filled, no more will be recruited. If it's not filled, let those with lower grades fill the gaps."

"Our officials in various departments are mostly from Liberal Arts. They only need to be literate, have good handwriting, know Politics well, and be average in all aspects. Now you are no longer lacking people, so starting from this year, reduce the number of students."

"Medicine must be the highest until the number of doctors increases, then we will make changes. Although the Ministry of Revenue is short of manpower, it doesn't need too many people every year. This Mathematics can be lowered appropriately. Agriculture and Engineering should be raised a bit to cultivate more professional talents. As for Education, you can recruit a few more in these few years to alleviate the pressure on your Intermediate Schools."