Govt gets tougher on Olympiad math contests   

教育部出重拳治“奥数”顽疾 须斩断利益链

备受诟病的“奥数”顽疾有望得到治理。中国教育部副部长刘利民21日表示，必须切实采取有效措施，坚决斩断“奥数”与招生挂钩的利益链。

Beijing (CNS) -- We will redouble our efforts to stop middle schools from selecting students based on their performance in math competitions, the Ministry of Education said on Thursday.

Although harsh regulations have been passed to ban Olympiad math competitions, some schools have thwarted the ban by renaming them as "scholarship contests," "junior middle school interviews" or "surveys of primary school math education."

"Such activities not only add to the pressure on students, but also disturb enrollment at middle schools," said Liu Limin, vice-minister of education.

The ministry said it will work with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce to develop and implement new regulations for math training programs at primary and secondary schools.

Presidents of schools that continue to connect enrollment with Olympiad math competitions will be held accountable, the ministry said, adding that we will expose schools that violate the rules on our website and in the media.