The original educational system was five-two-two, created to support the policy of reducing study time for agriculture and industry development. Elementary school was five years, while middle school and high school were each two years, totaling just nine years.
If one starts school at ten and studies smoothly, they could graduate high school by nineteen.
Xibao started school relatively young compared to his peers, later skipped a grade in elementary school, saving study time, and this year is in the second year of high school, an eligible graduate to take the college entrance exams.
However, the state unexpectedly reinstated the three-year system this year, introducing a third year of high school.
Nevertheless, students like Xibao can still take the college entrance exams. Several classmates plan to take them, happily enrolling if they pass or returning to attend the third year of high school and try again next year if they don't.
