In a survey of 21 countries, the counting ability of Chinese children ranked No.1. But imagination came in last and creative ability ranked fifth from the bottom.
The statistics came from a survey issued in 2009 by the International Educational Progress Evaluation Organization among children from 21 countries.
Hu Jiankang, an official with Chongqing‘s municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee, noted that among the top 20 inventions that have had a great effect on humanity, not one was invented by a Chinese person.
And while 2,000 Chinese students finish their doctorates in the US every year – more than any other group of foreign students – where they are apparently weak is in their imagination.
English People’s Today Online reported Hu as saying "imagination-oriented education" for China‘s primary and middle school students should be strengthened through legislation.