education
February 22, 2026
Up to 30% of Top-Ranked Students Advance to Competitions
There are two new developments in the Professional Guidelines for organizing competitions and exhibitions for primary and secondary school students for this school year. The first is a refined rule that 'a secondary school student can participate in two competitions and one exhibition...', which previously applied to all students in pre-university education, but now only to secondary school students. Therefore, primary school students can participate in competitions in as many subjects as they wish.
TL;DR
- Primary school students can now participate in an unlimited number of competitions.
- Secondary school students are limited to two competitions and one exhibition.
- A new rule allows only the top 30% of ranked students, meeting a minimum score, to advance to national competitions.
- This 30% rule has caused widespread confusion and varied interpretations among subject experts.
- Educators and associations are requesting clarification or removal of the ambiguous 'top-ranked' stipulation.
- Previously, students who placed first, second, or third in previous levels automatically qualified for national competitions.
- The new rule may significantly reduce the number of participants at the national level.
- Some experts suggest the rule might be intended to select the best performers from a unique ranking list across all districts.
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