China Education Leader: Exam Scores Aren’t the Only Path to Success
In a wide-ranging interview published on July 6, 2026, Tang Jiangpeng, Vice President of the China Education Association, delivered a nuanced message to a nation grappling with intense academic pressure: exam scores matter, but they are not the sole measure of a successful education. Speaking with The Paper, the influential educator argued for a “balanced philosophy” that preserves the fairness of China’s college entrance exam system while pushing for more holistic student development.
The Man Behind the Message
Tang Jiangpeng is no ordinary commentator. A former National CPPCC member and longtime principal of Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School, he shot to national fame in 2021 when his “Four Achievers” speech at the National Two Sessions went viral. His philosophy — that education should cultivate “lifelong exercisers, responsible citizens, problem solvers, and graceful livers” — has been adopted by schools across China, from elite urban institutions to remote primary schools in Xinjiang. Now serving as Vice President of the China Education Association and Director of the Contemporary Education Research Institute at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Tang’s views carry significant weight in ongoing education policy discussions.
Defending the Gaokao While Pushing for Change
At the heart of Tang’s argument is a careful balancing act. He strongly defends the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) as a “fundamental system for talent selection,” noting that its restoration in 1977 was a “great historical event” that transformed Chinese society by providing equal opportunity for social mobility. “When we discuss areas for improvement today,” Tang said, “we must never forget the immense value and significance of the Gaokao’s restoration.”
However, Tang is equally adamant that reform is necessary. He identifies fairness as the core value that must be preserved above all else, while advocating for changes in how students are assessed. He points to encouraging signs: the 2026 Gaokao already showed a shift from rote memorization toward assessing thinking quality, with this year’s Chinese language exam emphasizing personal experience and reading over mechanical learning.
AI: A Catalyst for Educational Transformation
Tang sees artificial intelligence not as a threat to traditional education but as a powerful enabler of reform. He believes AI could eventually make interview-based assessments feasible at scale, potentially transforming the exam system. “When AI can participate in interviews,” he noted, “the past model of using paper-and-pencil as the sole assessment method may change.”
In the AI era, Tang argues, his “Four Achievers” concept becomes even more relevant. “As machines become increasingly intelligent, for humans to stand tall before AI, they must possess key human qualities,” he said. When many jobs are automated, people will focus more on “spiritual abundance and integrity” — qualities that machines cannot replicate.
Breaking the Binary: Beyond Scores vs. Development
One of Tang’s most pointed critiques targets what he calls “single-minded thinking” and “binary opposition thinking” — the false choice between exam preparation and holistic development. “The ultimate value of education is for human happiness,” he explained. “Scores are an important path to happiness, but not the only path, nor a sufficient and necessary condition for happiness.”
Tang draws on his decades of experience as a principal to illustrate this balance. At Xishan Senior High School, he implemented programs that maintained strong academic performance while ensuring students had time for sports, music, and community service. His message to anxious parents and educators is pragmatic: “We are all living in a state of balance and coordination. Education is no different.”
From ‘Score Education’ to ‘Human Education’
In a related article published in Guangdong Education magazine, Tang elaborated on the need for a systemic shift from “score education” to “human education.” He argues this transformation must occur on three levels: educational values, school structure, and development strategy.
At the value level, schools must resist allowing the instrumental goal of exam preparation to override the ultimate purpose of education — developing complete human beings. At the structural level, schools should evolve into learning organizations that use AI to provide personalized education services. And at the strategic level, Tang calls for moving from “factor-driven” development — which relies on poaching top students and teachers — to “profession-driven” development that focuses on teacher quality and curriculum innovation.
A Vision for Shenzhen and Beyond
Tang has also turned his attention to Shenzhen, where he now lives and works. In an interview with Tencent News, he argued that Shenzhen should aim to “present the future face of China’s basic education” — not just compete with other Chinese cities on college admission rates. He advocates for Shenzhen to develop its own teacher training institutions, establish world-class education think tanks, and push for international standards in STEM education.
Under Tang’s leadership, the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey+ (TALIS+) project was launched in Shenzhen in early 2026, marking a significant step toward international benchmarking of the city’s education system.
The Road Ahead
Tang’s message arrives at a critical moment for Chinese education. The “Double Reduction” policy has reshaped the tutoring industry, AI is transforming how students learn, and debates about the purpose of education are more intense than ever. While Tang does not claim to have all the answers, his call for balance — preserving what works in the Gaokao while pushing for meaningful reform — offers a pragmatic path forward.
As he put it in his interview with The Paper: “If my words have indeed given students more opportunities to exercise, to read classics, to sing loudly even in their senior year — even if only a small change in the direction we hope for — then I am satisfied.”