If a nerdy student declines all social outings because he wants to hit the books, we can jeer at him and say how he spoil market.

Yes we are ranked. All sixth graders take a national exam, after which the top students gain entry to the best secondary schools. There has been a concerted effort to lessen the stresses arising from such competition in recent years, but parents who grew up under a competitive system find it hard to let go of grades