Eighteen departments jointly issued a document

There is a guide to action for improving the scientific quality of primary and secondary school students

The Ministry of Education and other 29 departments jointly issued the "Opinions on Strengthening Science Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in the New Era" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions") on the <>th, aiming to meet the needs of scientific and technological development and industrial transformation, strengthen the top-level design from the aspects of curriculum teaching materials, experimental teaching, teacher training, practical activities, and condition guarantees, fully integrate internal and external resources, promote the organic connection between the main position of the school and the large social classroom, provide more high-quality science education for primary and secondary school students, comprehensively improve the scientific quality of students, and cultivate the potential of scientists. A group of young people who are willing to dedicate themselves to scientific research.

What is the overall progress of science education in primary and secondary schools? Why is it necessary to involve eighteen departments and what are the main tasks of each department? In this regard, the reporter interviewed the person in charge of the Department of Supervision of Off-campus Education and Training of the Ministry of Education.

Primary and secondary school students performed well in science studies overall

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, science education in primary and secondary schools has been comprehensively strengthened. The latest national monitoring of the quality of compulsory education shows that primary and secondary school students have performed well in science studies overall, with about eighty percent of students reaching the middle level or above. In the most recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), students from four provinces and cities in China ranked first in reading, mathematics and science among all participating countries (regions). With the advancement of high-quality and balanced education, the scientific academic level of students in the central and western regions and rural areas has accelerated to improve.

Why the Opinions? "Science education is an important foundation for enhancing the country's scientific and technological competitiveness, cultivating innovative talents, and improving the scientific quality of the whole people." Through unremitting efforts, the level and quality of science education of primary and secondary school students have been continuously improved, and the science education of young people has achieved obvious results. However, we are also soberly aware that in the face of the new round of accelerated evolution of the global scientific and technological revolution and the goal of accelerating the construction of a strong country in education, science and technology, and talent, China's science education still has problems and deficiencies such as the overall weak foundation, uneven regional development, the ineffective integration of science education resources, weak teachers, low degree of practical teaching implementation, and the early detection and training mechanism of top-notch innovative talents still need to be broken, which need to be strengthened and improved. The person in charge said.

Eighteen departments are linked to form a pattern of "big science education"

Why do eighteen departments need to be involved in one document? What are the main tasks of each department?

In this regard, the person in charge gave an answer: The "Opinions" was jointly issued and implemented by 18 departments including the Ministry of Education and the Central Propaganda Department, which fully reflects the great importance attached by all parties to science education. Science education involves both inside and outside the school, inside and outside the classroom, not only with a wide range of content, but also related resources such as science education venues (institutes), practice bases, digital platforms, and talent projects are also scattered in various departments, fields, and industries, which require all parties to work together and cohesion. Among the 18 departments, there are those responsible for leading the overall lead and grasping coordination, those responsible for propaganda and mobilization and creating an atmosphere, those responsible for organizing mobilization and providing guarantees, those who provide resources and specific implementation, and those who provide intellectual support and personnel support, and so on. Through the establishment of a science education work mechanism led by the education department and jointly managed by relevant departments, we have formed a pattern of "big science education" and comprehensively and systematically promoted the implementation of science education.

The reporter learned that the "Opinions" focuses on solving the difficulties and problems existing in China's primary and secondary school science education at this stage, and mainly deploys three tasks——

First, efforts should be made to improve school teaching and services. In view of the problems in some localities and primary and secondary schools that do not pay enough attention to science education, the low staffing rate and gap of science education teachers, and the low degree of implementation of practical teaching, it is necessary to improve the system of curriculum and teaching materials, improve science education standards, deepen school teaching reform, expand scientific practice activities, include after-school service projects, and strengthen the construction of teachers.

The second is to make a fuss about the word "wide" and make good use of the social classroom. In view of the insufficient integration of science education inside and outside schools in some places, and the lack of effective establishment of social coordination support mechanisms, mobilize all parties in society to participate and provide resources and courses, guide enterprises to help build bases, encourage universities and research institutes to take the initiative to connect with primary and secondary schools, promote all-media communication, optimize digital intelligence platforms, and enrich science education resources.

The third is to find a breakthrough in the word "same" and do a good job in linking relevant reforms. It is necessary to standardize off-campus training in science and technology, strictly manage competition activities, coordinate projects for top-notch innovative talents, promote the reform of the content of the high school entrance examination, implement family science education, and carry out science education and research.

Make overall plans to achieve "real", "broad" and "same", and increase efficiency without increasing burden

The person in charge said that the "Opinions" focus on improving school teaching and services, implementing the key projects of the "School Science Education Quality Improvement Plan", establishing a work account, and carrying out investigation and guidance. Ensure quality and quantity to complete the prescribed actions of teaching and experimental courses, expand scientific practice activities, stimulate students' interest, and cultivate students' scientific dreams. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of teachers. Strengthen the supply of high-quality professional science course teachers from the source. Strengthen the construction of teachers and experimenters of primary and secondary school science courses in multiple links such as professional training, teacher training, job preparation, and evaluation mechanisms.

For the resources of extramural science education, he introduced, first, inventory, select and supplement resources, fully mobilize relevant units, strengthen the construction and opening of venues, bases, camps, parks, production lines and other resources, and provide a material basis for off-campus education. The second is to strengthen the docking between supply and demand, clarify the time and frequency requirements for science education, change the participation method from "short-term" to "normal", and realize the "two-way rush" between off-campus science education and schools. The third is to strengthen publicity and introduction, increase the publicity and promotion of science education resources, make the way of obtaining science education resources well-known, and make loving science, learning science, and using science become a social trend.

Science education is related to related work in the past, how to take into account supporting reforms?

"Synergy with the standardization of off-campus training. Guide science and technology non-discipline training institutions, not only to impart knowledge, but also to cultivate morality and cultivate people, and cultivate students' scientific spirit. In the same direction as science and technology competitions. Guide children not only to participate in competitions, but also to cultivate the spirit of 'dedication to science' and constantly strengthen the feelings of home and country. Coordinate with various talent programs such as 'Secondary School Student Excellence Program' and 'Qiangji Program'. In the name of science and innovation, we must not 'rush' on projects, but should clearly focus on them, cooperate with each other, and jointly serve the growth of students. Improve the propositions of academic level examinations, strengthen experimental examinations, and pay attention to cultivating students' scientific spirit and practical ability. In short, it is necessary to increase efficiency in an overall manner, but also not to increase burdens. The person in charge said.

Strive to make a big breakthrough in science education in primary and secondary schools within 3 to 5 years

Science and education resources are widely distributed in various departments, fields and industries, and problems such as duplicate construction of resources, structural deficiencies, and lack of accurate docking between supply and demand often occur, resulting in waste of resources or ineffective use. Faced with this problem, how to crack it?

The idea of the Ministry of Education is to do a good job in the construction of science education social classroom clusters on the basis of existing science education resources and working mechanisms. Make full use of digital technology to explore intelligent management, rely on the special construction of "science education" of the national smart education public service platform, build a discussion and exchange platform for science education in primary and secondary schools, and integrate various science education resources across the country in the way of "online" and "offline" integration. Through "menu-style" and "self-service" modes, the docking of science education resource providers and demand parties is realized, and high-quality resources are further promoted, high-quality services are provided, and utilization efficiency is improved.

How to ensure that vulnerable areas, weak schools and special groups of children are "left behind" in science education?

"In terms of working principles, we require strengthening macro-control, tilting all kinds of projects and tangible resources to the central and western regions, rural areas, old revolutionary areas, ethnic areas, border areas and key counties for national rural revitalization, and providing care and assistance guidance to weak schools and special children's groups." In terms of hardware support, we will arrange the construction of projects such as the 'Central and Western Region Science Education Site Aid Project'. The person in charge said that in terms of resource supply, it is clear to explore the use of advanced technology to make up for the lack of high-quality education and teaching resources in weak areas, weak schools and special children's groups. In terms of social mobilization, we will deploy and guide social organizations to assist in construction, especially enterprises closely related to high-precision and cutting-edge technology, to build science and education sites for weak areas and schools, to provide equipment, equipment, books, software, etc., and to train professionals.

It is understood that in order to ensure that the "Opinions" achieve practical results, the Ministry of Education will establish a working mechanism for science education, hold regular joint meetings for scheduling, set up expert teams, strengthen planning guidance and promote implementation, and ensure that progress is managed, questions are answered, and problems are helped. "We will also regularly monitor the scientific quality of young people, publish relevant results, guide areas with backward progress to make targeted improvements, and strive to make great breakthroughs in primary and secondary school science education in three to five years." (Guangming Daily)

(Reporter Jin Haotian and Chen Peng)