10 million pupils sit college exams

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-6-8  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ABOUT 10 million graduating high school students are sitting the world's largest state-organized tests for college entrance, while a small number of students who were most affected by the massive earthquake in Sichuan Province will get a grace period.

The Ministry of Education said a record number of 10.5 million students have registered to attend the national College Entrance Examination, which is scheduled to run from yesterday to tomorrow in most parts of China.

The state education authorities also asked colleges to offer two percent more entrance seats than previously planned for Sichuan examinees.

Students who were brave in rescue and relief work will be given preferred college enrolment this summer.

Meanwhile, the ministry has allowed students in the quake-hit areas, including 45 counties in Sichuan and 17 counties in Gansu, to have a grace period to offset the physical and psychological effects of the 8.0-magnitude tremor.

The May 12 earthquake, with its epicenter in Sichuan's Wenchuan County, claimed at least 69,130 lives.

The ministry did not specify when the postponed exam would be held. The new date, which will be announced after tomorrow, is expected to be in a month's time.

Students in other Sichuan counties and adjacent provinces are being required to sit the tests, after local governments have done everything possible to ensure their safety if an aftershock hits.

Local governments in Shaanxi Province and Chongqing Municipality have carefully checked the safety of existing school buildings, make-shift classrooms and tents which will house student examinees.

The ministry has also asked local education authorities to organize emergency rehearsals near test sites.

While saying that colleges nationwide will provide 5.99 million higher learning slots - the highest number yet - for the candidates, the ministry underscored that there would be severe punishment for students found cheating during tests.