Korean Educational Development Institute(KEDI)

Evidence of education fever in China can be found from the 7th century through today. Both historical and contemporary education fever have been created, promoted and maintained by state-orchestrated systems of high-stakes and extremely competitive exams. This comparative study examines the educational and social consequences of both the historical Civil Service (Keju) exam system and the current National College Entrance Exam (NCEE) system in China. Although the two systems focus on different content domains and serve different explicit purposes – employment versus college entrance – both have led to profound effects on society. Similarities and differences in design features between the two systems were compared. A number of common positive and negative social consequences were identified. It was observed that exam-driven education fever in China has been gained at the expense of many unintended and often serious negative consequences. Education fever and these consequences are all manifestations of the much deeper driving force of the exams. Attempts to regulate education fever needs to focus first on controlling the stakes and reward system that goes with the exams.