Checks on past prize winners

教育部向竞赛乱象动刀

The Ministry of Education has asked organizers of national competitions for primary and secondary students to double-check the authenticity and originality of past prize winners.

教育部要求中小学全国性竞赛主办单位对以往获奖项目的真实性、独创性进行复核。

National competitions should not far exceed students' cognitive abilities, and parents and others should not participate in the competitions on behalf of the contestants, the ministry said in a notice on Monday.

教育部在7月20日发布的一则通知中要求，坚决避免全国性竞赛项目远超学生认知能力的现象，坚决防止由家长或其他人代劳的行为。

The ministry will continue to strictly scrutinize national competitions, and organizers that are found to be seriously violating regulations will be removed from competition white lists and not be allowed to host competitions again, it said.

教育部将进一步加强对全国性竞赛的管理，主办单位出现严重违法违规行为的，将从竞赛名单中移除，不再受理该单位举办竞赛的申请。

Further, competition results are not allowed to be used to decide student admission to primary and middle schools, the notice said.

此外，不得将竞赛结果作为幼升小、小升初升学依据。

A third-place finish by a sixth-grader at a national science competition for research on colorectal cancers caused public outcry after it was determined the boy's project was the result of heavy involvement from his father.