As one of the first districts approved by the Ministry of Education to implement balanced development of compulsory education, Licang district in Qingdao, Shandong province continues to improve its educational quality by launching varied activities.

The district government has accelerated the modernization of its education system and structure, as well as improved common services related to sports and arts for young people.

Noting that the abilities of headmasters and teachers are key to a good school, the district government is promoting strong leadership skills among them.

Wang Xiaoguang, Party committee chief and director of the Licang education and sports bureau, said: "Headmasters should be familiar with the country's political situation and their schools' regulatory framework and teach students in accordance with individual differences." Headmasters and teachers are encouraged to improve themselves by studying theory, expert tutoring, research and discussion, and they will be rewarded, Wang said.

Sun Liancheng, the chief representative of the American Educational Research Association in China and a member of the School Culture Research Branch of the Chinese Society, has introduced a STEM curriculum to principals of primary and secondary schools, instructors and management professionals of Licang district.

STEM education emphasizes organic integration of science, technology, engineering and math courses into the educational experience.

The traditional education should transform to STEM education to cultivate students' inquiry learning and cross-subject reorganization ability, he said during Licang's first headmasters training in March.

Every month, the district hosts educational lectures and invites domestic and foreign experts, including famous headmasters, to deliver speeches and share their insights.

In addition, representatives of the district's education circle visit high-quality schools nationwide to build a comprehensive communication mechanism on educational topics.

This year, the heads and teachers of the district's kindergartens, primary and middle schools have visited renowned schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Chengdu in Sichuan province.

The trips enabled the education leaders from Licang to learn about advanced teaching theories and integrate the district's features with those theories to explore high-quality educational development.

The schools also emphasize better internal communication. Researchers offer teaching and research guidance in different schools, and teachers conduct exchanges in teaching methods.

The district has unified the teaching result assessments in primary and secondary schools and attaches great importance to the analysis of teaching quality and the research on examination preparation for graduating grades, local officials said.

Preschool education is also a key part of Licang's education promotion plan.

The district is accelerating the construction of kindergartens to relieve the pressure on overcrowded, inadequate educational facilities.

International education

Licang district has established a reputation for its international cooperation in education.

Since the Qingdao International Academician Park became the first practice base for primary and middle school students in Licang in April 2017, every participating school has invited an academician and launched themed practical activities.

Last year, the students in Licang district participated in various social practical activities with biologist Yuan Longping, famed as the father of hybrid rice in China, as well as noted academicians Wang Yutian and Chen Pu.

Such face-to-face communication not only provides the students with rich opportunities to take part in discussions using their growing comprehensive abilities, but also enlightens them regarding major technological progress.

Chul B Park, a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering joining in the Qingdao International Park program, has also been named the honorary president of many schools.

He said students should develop a macroscopic thinking ability and focus on the wonders changing the world and the scientific stories behind them.

Students' attention was captured at last year's International Culture Festival, when images of camels - symbols of the ancient Silk Road - and model high-speed railways running through countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative were on display.

China's Belt and Road Initiative was highlighted at the event, along with an introduction to participating countries, including Pakistan, Russia and Albania.

This year, Licang has begun to implement an international education strategy revolving on the Belt and Road Initiative to advance cooperation with those countries and regions involved.

Local schools are increasing efforts to build partnerships with their overseas peers.

The district has also hosted international education forums and invited foreign teachers to give lessons.

Varied activities

To inspire students to participate in sports and art games, Licang district often holds colorful events, such as table tennis, painting and calligraphy training and competitions, officials of the education and sports bureau said.

Chen Ning, a physical education teacher at Qingdao No 27 Middle School, said that her encouragement often fills the classroom with confident laughter and applause for a student's success. All her students passed the 2015 senior high school entrance sports examination, Chen said.

Last year, Chen was selected among more than 500,000 PE teachers by national broadcaster China Central Television, which made a seven-minute feature documenting her work at school.

Yong'an Road Primary School, a provincial demonstration school of art and education in Shandong, has offered various kinds of art classes for students in different grades, such as cucurbit, clarinet, calligraphy, painting, seal-cutting, dance and poetry recitals.

The students at Tongchuan Road Primary School can recite The Analects of Confucius, The Book of Songs, and Dao De Jing, a Taoist classic written by philosopher Laozi.

In addition, Qingdao Second Experimental Primary School, Beishan Primary School, Zhenhua Road Primary School, Wenchang Primary School and Qingdao No 62 Middle School launched mock trials to give their students and teachers a deeper understanding of campus accidents' occurrence, prevention, treatment and related laws and regulations.

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