Divesting our schools from the grip of bureaucracy is an essential first step toward modernizing our primitive education system. If this step is not taken, the nation's ambition of building world-class colleges will remain simply wishful thinking.

As some insightful critics have observed, once bureaucracy is stripped, it will prove the most revolutionary move in the newly published guidelines for education reform.

But, just as expected, it has invited mixed feelings, even at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. For advocates, it is a ray of hope. For others, it apparently is something to worry about.

We can imagine what each side is thinking. True educators embrace the upcoming reform because they need the autonomy that has long been denied to our institutions of education. Pseudo-educators, or career bureaucrats charged with managing such institutions, have plenty to worry about.

All this foot-dragging to take such a step would not have taken so long had the authorities anticipated the potential resistance. Sources within the Ministry of Education have demonstrated conspicuous caution responding to questions about scheduling. On a positive note, at least we have been guaranteed to see "pilot programs" soon.

After decades of bureaucratic abuse, our schools are deep in the mire of bureaucratic red tape. Sorting things out takes time and to keep the shock at affordable levels will prove a trickier task.

But nothing should stop us from proceeding in that direction because this is the only way out for China's education.