As he effortlessly bounds from one corner of a spacious classroom to another, it's not easy to tell at first that Lai Jiajun is blind. The class full of students listens intently to the teacher and interact excitedly with each other. Lai 19 years enrolled in Central Conservatory of Music University in 2015. He was born completely blind in China’s southern city of Hangzhou.
Every year, more than nine million Chinese students sit a high-stakes examination. The Gaokao, is the only way for students to gain entry to university, it's competitive and pressure from parents is high. Chinese students undergo regular school examinations, but the gaokao is critical. It’s seen as a make-or-break opportunity, especially for poorer families, in a country where a degree is essential for a good job.
Prior to 2015 however, the nations blind students had no option to take this test. The only way they could make it to University in China was to take a special test, which only three Universities in the entire country offered.
In 2015, China introduced a new policy, enabling blind people to take part in college entrance examination via a braille Gaokao. Lai Jiajun was one of the first batch of students had got benefit from this new policy.
"Since 2014, I felt excited and nervous when I heard blind students might be able to take part in the Gaokao. Then the policy was introduced in 2015." Lai Jiajun said.
