This is Round Table.
Imagine you're a student in China and the single most important test of your life.
has just been cancelled.
That's the reality for some families in Chengdu right now,
where a new pilot program is ditching the high-stakes Zhongkou.
That's the high school entrance exam.
It's a radical experiment to ease academic pressure, but is removing the ultimate benchmark,
a relief for students, or a risk to their future.
We're live from our studios in Beijing.
This is Roundtable.
I'm Steve.
Thank you so much for sharing your time with us today and for the show.
I'm with Youshun and Xingyu.
First up, In a significant pilot program,
the city of Chengdu is exempting students at eight local schools from the daunting national high school entrance exam.
While initial media reports overstated the case by suggesting a full cancellation of the Zhongkou,
the move nonetheless provides a tangible break for select families from the relentless pressure of standardized testing.
The initiative replaces the high stakes exam with school-based assessments aiming to foster a more holistic educational environment.
The experiment raises some important questions about China's education system, though.
Can this alternative model really reduce student burnout without compromising academic rigor?