Testing times for student admissions

Nonresidents' appeal

In August last year, the State Council's General Office published a directive requesting provincial governments to make policies addressing the issue before the end of 2012.

Liang Shuangcai, a nonresident father, has been visiting the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education's Office of Complaints and Appeal every Thursday morning since the directive came out.

Liang moved to Beijing 12 years ago from Henan province. He works as an auditor, and has an 11-year-old son who grew up in the capital. "We will be facing the problem very soon," he said.

The Beijing policy published on Dec 30 only allows nonresident children to take the entrance exam for secondary vocational schools, starting from 2013, and higher vocational schools, in 2014.

Du Guowang cannot wait. His son is supposed to take the exam in June, and the boy may have missed his chance to do so.

In late October, Du and other parents asked the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education whether their children can take the 2013 exam in the capital.

Du said they received a letter from the commission on Nov 14, which said it is still waiting for information from the Ministry of Education, and parents should keep tracking information updates online.

While awaiting a final decision, Du tried to register his son's name on the website of the Beijing Education Examinations Authority on Dec 2. He said he successfully registered and paid the registration fee online after receiving an electronic confirmation.

He then spread the word to other nonresident parents, who found they could do the same, he said.

Nonresident parents gather in front of the Beijing Education Examinations Authority in late December, petitioning for their children. Feng Xin / China Daily

Click for more cover stories