Primary school breaks with traditional ways

Combining related subjects helps keep youths engaged, principal says

A Chinese primary school's experiment with new curricula and teaching methods, aimed at shaking off the stereotype of nurturing carbon-copy students, is making waves in education circles.

"With our new curricula, students are not only good at exams, they also gain comprehensive abilities such as creative and innovative skills," said Liu Xiya, principal of Chongqing Xiejiawan Primary School, who led the highly regarded curricula reform in her school.