A plan that will enable the country to evaluate the compulsory education system for the first time was launched on April 15, with experts saying it will assist in policymaking and promote quality education across the country.

The plan, drawn up by the State Council’s Education Supervision and Guidance Committee, is designed to test the academic performance and physical and mental health of junior middle school and primary school students. It will also examine factors that affect their performance and health.

“We have been unable, for a long time, either to evaluate the standard of our compulsory education system or to analyze the problems that exist because of the lack of statistics,” said He Xiuchao, director of the Ministry of Education’s Supervision and Guidance Office. “The implementation of the plan will enable us to do so.”

A random selection of students in the fourth and eighth grades on the mainland will take a test consisting of two parts. Six subjects will be tested－the Chinese language, mathematics, science, physical education, art and general knowledge.

However, the findings will not be used in any admission process or to assess individual students or schools.

“It will only be used to help make better education policy and help schools improve the quality of the education they provide, so it will not add to the workload of students or the pressure on the schools,” He said.