鈥楴o point in learning pinyin before school鈥
Print Edition
FORCING children to learn pinyin before they enter primary school does not give them an academic advantage, according to education officials.
A survey report released yesterday shows that primary students who did not learn pinyin in advance were able to catch up to those who were sent to cram schools within two years.
The survey, conducted in eight local primary schools, shows that those who crammed in advance only maintained an advantage over those who did not for one semester in written tests and three semesters in verbal tests. At the end of the fourth semester, no obvious difference could be seen.
Cramming for pinyin, a series of phonetic symbols used in the Chinese language, has become popular since educational authorities reformed the syllabus.
One change the reform brought is that pinyin is no longer taught separately at the beginning of primary school. Instead, it is taught together with characters because experts believe students can pick up gradually when learning to read.
Parents of current primary students were taught according to the previous model, and many believe learning pinyin in advance is good preparation for learning characters and will give their children a scholastic advantage. So they turn to training agencies.
Cram schools are so popular that it’s hard to get a place at the more prestigious ones.
A woman surnamed Xia, who has a daughter who will enter primary school in September, told Shanghai Daily that she was fortunate to know the head of a well-known institute and was therefore able to secure a place for her in its popular pinyin class.
Regardless of its merits, parents feel obligated to send their children to cram schools because they know other parents are sending theirs.
“I don’t know how pinyin is taught at school now and whether it’s effective, but I think teachers will naturally teach more quickly than before if most of the students learn fast because they have prepared in advance,” said Xia.
“My girl will be lagging behind if she starts from zero,” she added. “We may still have to make it up later with cram school. So why not do it now?”
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