ith the many changes and advancements China has seen over the past 40 years, it is easy to see how the country’s education system has progressed as well. China’s education system continues to make fundamental changes and reforms, helping the system improve at a much faster rate than those of other developing nations.

In a recent interview with Professor Fernando M. Reimers of Harvard University, he discussed the idea of a significant “paradigm shift” toward a more modern education system in China. The system places greater emphasis on the value of creativity in the classroom, where students not only learn a traditional curriculum but also develop problem-solving, creative, innovative and interpersonal skills.

With major education reform in China in the last 30 years, the system has vastly changed. In the 1980’s, China’s education system was troubled with principal’s main incentives being to please government officials and not focus on the quality of learning for the students. By the 1990’s, government gave principals more responsibilities with teacher selection and, essentially, steps were made to improve students’ education. China’s most recent advancement was in 2003 with profound curriculum reform that placed higher value on creativity in the classroom to encourage students’ personal development rather than sole emphasis on classroom disciplines.

Fostering creativity in the classroom

Current programs at the Ameson Foundation and Ameson Institutes of Foreign Languages foster this idea of increased creativity in the classroom. In particular, Chinese students in the AP Program are given opportunities to study a variety of topics that give greater freedom and allow more creativity in in-depth study. Through the more modern educational practices and opportunities with the AP programs, Ameson students are moving away from a rote memorization style of education to one that gives them the opportunity to think critically, subjectively and objectively in mathematics, sciences, history and literature.

The English Literature and World History programs are only two examples of this allowance for increased creativity. Students are encouraged to think outside the box and share ideas about subjects that other classmates, and even teachers, may not have previously considered. In the English literature program, students are encouraged to find deeper meaning of famous works of literature by expressing ideas and interpretations of the text. World history comes to life for students in the World History program, and students are challenged to make connections between historical world events and their future implications. 

Fostering creativity in extracurricular activities.

“Helping students discover their voice is one the the most important things schools can do.” Prof. Fernando M. Reimers Not only do programs like the AP program help foster creativity in the classroom setting, but through extracurricular activities student are able to use, build and broaden their skill sets in new ways. In an effort to introduce new programs and diversify students, The Voice newspaper provides an outlet of expression that allows students from the best high schools in Jiangsu Province to contribute and help produce a student newspaper. This newspaper will showcase students' talents and will be distributed and read across all the involved schools.

Prof. Reimers notes that student newspapers are a great and crucial way to encourage students’ creativity and to help them find their voice. With the 2003 curriculum change shifting to one that focuses beyond students’ knowledge of disciplines, students need opportunities to build problem-solving and interpersonal skills in a more innovative and creative capacity. “Helping students engage in taking an active role in producing a newspaper is a contribution to developing those skills and developing their voice,” says Prof. Reimers. “Helping students discover their voice is one the the most important things schools can do.”

Ameson’s role in fostering creativity.

As development continues in the programs offered to students enrolled in Ameson Institute programs and schools, Professor Sean Zhang, Deputy Chairman of the Ameson Foundation, is pleased that the Ameson Foundation is at the forefront of implementing the necessary changes to benefit students’ classroom and personal learning. By continuing to develop programs at Ameson Institute schools, students will be able to get the most out of their education experience by implementing and adding opportunities to explore creativity in the classroom and other activities.

"It is an exciting time to be involved with working in education in China," says Prof. Sean Zhang. "Because it is changing, the Ameson Foundation and Ameson Institute schools are able to lead the way in how to improve the quality of education students receive and make it diversified - much like education systems in the West."

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