World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) CEO Stavros N. Yiannouka.[Photo/China Today]

The year 2015 marks China's new era of mass "entrepreneurship and innovation." World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) CEO Stavros N. Yiannouka observed in a recent interview that both developed and developing countries of the world are experiencing a bottleneck in economic growth. A transformed economic model is their only way out of it, as creativity and innovation supersede manufacturing and production amid the process of industrial upgrading. Education, however, does not meet the demands of this development trend in many countries. It instead continues to churn out a non-specifically capable work force rather than the more specialized and creative talents that are needed.

Yiannouka went on, picking up his cell phone, "Any number of people own iPhones these days, but although 90 percent of their components are made in China, 95 percent of the profit on each one flows back to the U.S.'s Silicon Valley. Design and creativity are obviously the predominant features of this value chain."

Respect Children's Curiosity

Why does a four-year-old child ask 100 or more questions every day?

And why, the longer he is in education, does this tendency diminish? Tony Wagner from the Harvard University innovative laboratory believes that school weakens an individual’s inherent creativity. We now face the challenge to reverse this phenomenon.

How can children’s creativity be protected? Respecting their essential qualities and encouraging their interests is crucial. Principal of Tsinghua University Primary School Dou Guimei told the story of a student named Li Jiahua.

As a child, Li showed a deep interest in all kinds of worms and insects. His father, a professor in the Physics Department of Tsinghua University, was puzzled at his son’s hobby, since no one else in the family had a background in biology.

Although the boy’s father was proud of his son’s gift in this field, he also worried that the hobby would interfere with his studies. Li was at the critical point of graduating from primary to middle school. Most of his classmates were attending extra-curricular classes. Lost in this quandary, Professor Li asked advice from his son’s teachers. They advised him to let the boy pursue his hobby, and to encourage him to continue writing his observations on insects in his diary.

With the support of both parents and teachers, Li spent his holidays observing and studying insects throughout the nation and around the world, and even ventured into rain forests. He recorded his copious findings in his diary.

"Our educational aim should give priority to children’s needs," Principal Dou said. "We should respect children’s essential qualities and nurture their curiosity, encouraging them to solve problems creatively and so gain confidence." The school accordingly provided Li with opportunities to share his passion with other entomologists.

When Li’s first book, The Social World of Insects, was published, the school invited celebrated Nobel Prize laureate and Tsinghua University alumnus Yang Zhenning to meet him. The 92-year-old scientist was thrilled on hearing Li’s story, and expressed his admiration for the boy when he signed a copy of the book. He agreed that teachers should pay close attention to children’s interests and do their utmost to cultivate their creativity.

Li’s father was deeply moved, "Of every 100 scientists, only one has the potential to become a popular science writer. Li Jiahua may be one in the future."

Young Li now has sufficient confidence to stand before a sizable audience and give entomological talks.