TWIN girls aged 9 sat for a law examination conducted by the China Council of Self-Taught Higher Education Examinations at Donghu Middle School in Luohu District on April 17.
They could be the youngest candidates for the national self-taught examinations, Shenzhen Evening News reported.
The girls, who could not be identified, took the test for Criminal Procedure on April 17, and their father surnamed Zhou said he just wanted to improve their learning ability.
We were so surprised to see two little girls entering the examination hall with adult candidates. I stopped them, but they produced their certificates to take the test, so I had to let them in, a school security guard surnamed Yan said.
When I was told there were two children coming to take the test, I could not believe it. I went to see one of them to confirm their ages, a teacher surnamed Liu who was in charge of the examination told the News.
When the examination finished, many candidates went and asked them questions. The older sister was taciturn, while the younger one was more chatty. Some candidates said they had seen them at the examination last year, Liu said.
Their father Zhou said it was neither strange nor unprecedented for children to take this test. There were children aged around 10 taking the test in other Chinese cities years ago, he said. It is not important how well they did, but learning ability matters.
We did not pressure them. Although they have taken law examinations, it does not mean they will pursue law, it s just helping them raise their awareness, he said.
Zhou also said that, unlike many children who gave up regular studies for these courses, his twins lived ordinary lives and went to school like all other children.
I ve never stopped learning since I came to Shenzhen more than 10 years ago and learning has helped me a lot, so I hope my children can understand the importance of learning and become strong individuals in the future, he said.
According to the examination system, self-taught Law majors must complete 14 required courses, including Logic, Economic Law, International Law and Criminal Procedure.
Any resident can apply for the examinations as long as he or she has a valid certificate, an official from the admissions office of the city education bureau told the News. There were minors attending the examinations in the city. These two were just a little younger and they were twins, the official said.
(Wang Yuanyuan)
