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Should colleges ban student marriages?
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Peng Zhaoxia
RECENTLY, the State Education Department issued a new rule in university enrollment, throwing out restrictions on students who were above 25 years old or married. That is to say, married people will be allowed to study in universities through the National College Entrance Exams from this year on. However, the original regulation, which prohibited students from getting married while studying in universities, was not abolished. As a result, many students and faculty members are debating the issue of marriage.
Zhang Bigong, vice-president of Shenzhen University
Even though universities are open to married and older people, our regular campus management won't be influenced too much. After all, these people are a minority, so we will certainly not call off the marriage ban.
Indeed, the new rule helps make true the dream of those married and older people who desire to get a formal university education. If some single older people enter our university and then want to get married, we will handle it on a case-by-case basis.
As for the campus students, I advocate respecting their citizenship, equal rights and free communication between teachers and students, developing their personality by leading them to think independently.
As for the worries of their parents, I think it is unwise for them to totally depend on universities to educate their kids. All we can do is to guide the students but not to do everything for them.
Liu Hongyi, professor at Shenzhen University
The new rule responds well to the current demand for expanded university enrollment. In the past, universities conducted a kind of "elite education". Now, every citizen has the right to be educated including the right to be educated in universities. In this case, it is necessary to open the university gates wider.
However, university students should concentrate more in their study. I don't agree with calling off the marriage ban for university students because it will cause problems in campus management. If some older students want to get married during their studying years, we will take into account their specific situation before granting them permission.
A recent report shows that only six older or married people signed up for the National College Entrance Exams in the whole city of Shanghai, and that may have been the highest in the nation. What's more, due to the institutional restructuring conducted in recent years, some civil servants were laid off and thus wanted to go back to university for further improvement. Even so, their coming won't make waves.
Li Zhipeng, student at Shenzhen University
This is surely a wonderful thing. It indicates that the overall citizen education has taken a big step forward and marks the biggest changeover since the National College Entrance Exams were brought back in the 1970s.
Referring to the influence that the older and married students might shed upon us, I think it's inevitable. In my opinion, they may cherish their opportunity to study with us, which will certainly push them to study hard, moreover, their relatively rich social experience can help expand our views of society.
As for the marriage ban, whether the university side would call it off or not won't have much of an effect upon us. So far as I know, most of the students don't want to be tied down by marriage at such an early age.
If it should transpire that some older students, whether male or female, wish to get married, I hope it will be handled in a humane way.
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