上重点中学不靠实力靠运气

Among the middle schools of Fuling district, Chongqing municipality, two of them are considered to be prestigious: Fuling No.5 Middle School and Fuling Shiyan Middle School.

Over the past five years, a primary school loacted outside of Fuling district has been allocating chances for students to study in these two key middle schools by drawing lots.

Headmaster of the primary school, Zhang Weidong, says they have never received complaints from parents about the lottery draw. He says, out of 470 graduating primary school students, from four schools within their district this year, 160 attended the lottery. Only ten students were selected, gaining the chance to enroll at the two prestigious middle schools in Fuling district. Those who failed could only enter other middle schools within their own district.

As lots were drawn, not only were students and teachers present, but also parent representatives witnessing the whole process. One of the parents in attendance was Zhang Qiushu.

"I was there during the drawing of lots. No one cheated."

Although most students, including those who had achieved high scores, failed in the lottery, there were no complaints from parents. One parent remarked:

"It's all about trying your luck. And we have no choice. A lottery is the easiest way out. I'm not against it, even though my child did not win."

Most parents agree that the lottery introduces ease and fairness. Zhang Xurui, a graduating student who won the lottery, and has since enrolled at Fuling No.5 Middle School, says the lottery gives more ordinary students a chance to study in prestigious schools.

"It's fair. Before the lottery, only high achieving students could be enrolled by the well-known schools. But now ordinary students like me, or students with lower grades can also have the chance to enter those key schools."

By giving ordinary students and students with lower grades more chance, the lottery somewhat lowers the chances of high achieving students. Some parents say this is a pity, as high achieving students deserve to go to better schools.

The Head master of one of these "better" schools- Fuling Shiyan Middle school, Liu Qunpu, says that the lottery system has influenced the school's high school enrollment rate.

"Before the lottery system was used, our high school enrolment rate was at 60 percent and above, but since 2007 when the lottery system was introduced, the number dropped to 30 percent."

Based on China's Compulsory Education Law, middle school enrollment is not allowed to be decided by examination. The local education administration says as long as the process of selection is transparent and fair, lotteries are not against the rules.

For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.