Fairness in Chinese Educational Assessment: Historical Practices and Contemporary Challenges

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Abstract

China is historically examination-oriented, and testing has been used as the major assessment tool to make judgments on student performance for many years. Although initiates have been taken to address problems related to the deeply entrenched testing-oriented system, testing continues to play a major role in Chinese educational assessment. The current study investigated socio-cultural beliefs and values which influenced the general determination of the fairness of one test, as delineated by students and teachers/ administrators. Results found that the participants endorsed the test due to their merit-based value, testing-oriented tradition, and pursuit of efficiency. The study questions whether fairness, driven by cultural and political ideology, serves to impede the development of fairness for those in the least advantaged positions in China.

Author

• Xiaomei Song, Georgia Southern University