(ECNS) - High school textbooks on traditional Chinese culture will be published this September, the Mirror reported Monday, citing a research team with the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The set of textbooks, compiled by the China Sino Culture and Arts Center, consists of four volumes – Analects, Mencius, Great Learning · Doctrine of the Mean, and Tao Te Ching.
The four volumes, which were an important accomplishment for the educational research group during the 12th five-year plan, will be trialed nationwide.
Last year, the MOE issued guidelines on boosting education of traditional Chinese culture, requiring a higher proportion of related content in high school textbooks.
Traditional culture is also expected to be part of college entrance examinations in China.
However, how to test students on ancient Chinese culture, and what content should be tested, are tricky issues, says Zhang Jian, secretary general of the China Sino Culture and Arts Center.
Experts advise that importance be attached to how candidates think about the philosophy and thinking contained in the classics, rather than definitions of words and phrases.
