New school term, new resources
Three new kindergartens and two elementary schools opened in Minhang District as the autumn semester began, with student enrollment up.
“The number of students in Minhang has reached 230,000, and there are more than 400 schools in the district,” said Hui Minxia, director of Minhang Education Bureau. “We are picking up the pace of improving educational quality.”
Parents are keen for their children to receive the best possible schooling and the district is committed to making that happen.
Minhang has hired some 435 teachers this year. More than half of them have master’s degrees. New teachers will spend two days a week receiving teacher’s training for a year before being assigned full-time duties.
“By the end of this year, more than 90 percent of public kindergartens and nine-year compulsory education schools will enjoy the benefit of the new education system,” Hui said. “We have established four education groups involving 12 school blocks.”
Education groups join schools together to share facility and faculty resources.
Among nine schools that are the members of the Minhang High School Education League, Minhang High School is at the core. The league is developing courses that target the personal abilities of individual students.
Minhang No. 2 High School has moved its campus to Maqiao Town and become the Minhang Technology High School afflicted to East China University of Science and Technology. Science and technology will be features of the Maqiao school curriculum.
“The district has also introduced many excellent courses from abroad,” said Hui. “They include courses on happiness and health. Another trend is that universities are working with nine-year compulsory education schools to cultivate potential at younger ages.”
Students studying in schools afflicted to the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine often visit campus. The university also sends lecturers to the schools.
Ni Yaoming, the director of the district, visited Pujiang No. 2 Elementary School, where he praised the work of teachers and the steps taken to ensure student security.