Seminar urges rethink on academic focus

Xia Qingfeng, principal of the academy, delivered a work report about the school's development, with many education officials seated in the audience.

"The school was created in 2013, when China entered a new era, and was named after the national capital," he said.

Xia said the school had high aims when it was established. School authorities had always intended to make the institute a base for basic education innovation, a cradle for innovative students and a platform for international exchanges. "We've made an effort to encourage our students to speak up, rather than just being dictated to by their teachers," he said. Xia said the digital era has arrived, but that does not diminish the importance of cultivating a fully developed individual.

The key to making students innovative is the school creating an environment where innovation is everywhere, he added. "We reformed our curriculum and created a three-tier subject system," he said, referring to the addition of nontraditional subjects such as reading, fitness and leadership training.

"Over the decade, we've striven to create a 'fishing ground' where students can jump into the water and catch their own haul."

Wu Xiaojie, head of Chaoyang district where the school is located, said the school has become a platform for schools to share their experiences.

Chaoyang district is home to one-sixth of the city's educational resources, and Wu's administration has been working to promote quality education and make those resources readily available. More than 20,000 students are enrolled in the district's international schools.

Liu Limin, a former vice-minister of education who now serves as president of the China Association for International Education Exchange, said talented people are the key to making the nation powerful, and education is the central plank for the high-quality development of a populous country such as China.

"Basic education is the foundation for improving the quality of our citizens," he said.

More efforts should be made to guide students to learn and think, and help cultivate their curiosity, Liu said. More optional courses in basic education should also be made available, with a broader aim to provide personalized education and make the most of each student's potential, he added.