Chinese young people are learning how to think more creatively as the country steps up the restructuring of its education system. But, although the old system of "spoon-fed" education is changing, students are still dogged by a rigorous approach to study.

The latest nationwide survey organized by the Ministry of Education has also found that family, schools and social institutes are playing a more constructive role in China's bid to upgrade its education.

The biannual survey, conducted between July and September last year, questioned 11,800 middle school and college students in 31 provincial administrations to get a clear idea of how China's younger generation is thinking.

It found that about 63.3 percent of Chinese young people have improved their knowledge about the working of the brain.

About 59.3 percent said they are full of confidence and ready for cooperation, 48.1 percent said they have strong interest in new things, while 43.1 percent said they are prone to questioning anything new.

"It shows that more and more young Chinese people have developed their knowledge about creativity," said Ma Kangmei, chief director of China Youth Creativity Research Center of China University of Politics and Law which is in charge of the survey.

But the survey found young Chinese people are daunted by a rigorous approach to science, old mentality in thinking as well as information overflow.

About 54.5 percent said they stick to rigorous ways of thinking when solving problems, 44.6 percent said they shy away from questioning teachers' comments in classes, while 38.1 percent said they will not do anything that may bring about risks.

But Chinese people believe the environment has become more friendly towards development creativity in schools and homes.

(China Daily 04/27/2001)