Trial program launched to aid high school graduates

The Ministry of Education launched a trial program in south China's Hainan Province to help high school graduates choose their majors through a comprehensive analysis and report. The program, known as the "Yunhai Project," involves a thorough analysis of students' scores on their college entrance examinations. Participating students are also asked to take part in a 210-question survey that helps program administrators to get a handle on individual students' academic strengths and preferences, allowing them to give more specific advice on what major will be most suitable for a given student. Nearly 80 percent of Hainan's high school graduates took part in the survey after college entrance examinations were concluded in early June, said Zheng Wanfa, head of the Examination Bureau of Hainan Province. Tang Yi, a student from the Haikou Middle School affiliated with Hunan Normal University, received a report from program administrators on Wednesday that suggested that he should consider geography and agriculture as potential majors. "Through this survey, I have learned that I am particularly well-suited to study geography. I think I will apply to a college that has good geography and environmental science programs," said Tang. The program was created by the ministry's National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA). NEEA director Dai Jiagan said the program was designed to help students get to know themselves better and choose majors in a more precise and rational manner. The examination authority will consider extending the program to other provinces according to participating students' responses, Dai said.