Gaokao reforms could leave Chinese public vulnerable to pseudo-history, top academic warns
China’s secondary school students are dropping history as an exam subject, a trend that could leave the public more vulnerable to distorted narratives in the future, an academic at a top university has warned. The note of caution comes as Beijing steps up efforts to counter “historical nihilism” – the official term for narratives that contradict or undermine the state’s official historical line –…
China's secondary school students are dropping history as an exam subject, a trend that could leave the public more vulnerable to distorted narratives in the future, according to an academic at Beijing Normal University. Liu Linhai, dean of the school of history, warned that the weakening and marginalization of history education should be a matter of urgent concern for policymakers.
Beijing has been stepping up efforts to counter "historical nihilism" and pseudo-history, such as claims that Ancient Greece did not exist. The reforms to China's highly competitive college entrance examination, or gaokao, have caused a structural problem affecting the subject of history education.
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