Changes 'will be in vain' if new policies are not implemented: official

While learning that the English test will be moved from the gaokao, the national college entrance exam, Chen Xuemei no loner pushed her son, who is a grade one student in senior middle school in Beijing, to attend English classes after school. Instead, she hopes Harry Potter can cast his magic and help her son with English.

Described as "a year of comprehensive reform for education" by Xu Mei, the Ministry of Education spokeswoman, 2013 saw a series of education reforms unveiled.