The pros and cons of Hengshui school mode

Not right to hype model

Xiong Bingqi, deputy dean of the 21st Century Education Research Institute

The debate should not focus on the conflict between exam-oriented and competence-oriented education systems, because the Hengshui model has proved a success because the students prepared by the school to take the college entrance exam are selected from among the best students from middle schools in Hebei.

Continuing to strengthen the advantages of "super schools"－instead of improving the condition of and education equality in ordinary schools in more counties－will not help raise the education standards of rural students.

So it's not right to project the Hengshui High School as a savior of students from rural areas and economically weak background and to help these kids. After all, the school banks on its students' success rate at the college entrance exam to earn more fame.