China's path to getting smarter, technology-wise, has now found its way into its classrooms. Primary and middle school students in south-west China's Guizhou are now wearing "smart uniforms". But, CGTN's Wei Lynn Tang shows us how it's not Big Brother watching over the kids, it's their parents.

It's 8 in the morning, time for school. From a mobile app, teachers and parents are able to track their children to see when and if they report to school, and when they leave. These 20-second videos can be replayed thereafter.

WEI LYNN TANG GUIYANG, GUIZHOU PROVINCE "This is all thanks to a chip embedded in these smart school uniforms, which are connected to the school's surveillance and intelligent hardware systems at its entry and exit points."

Students from this middle school started wearing smart uniforms as far back as a year and a half ago. It is one of several schools in China's Guizhou Province currently in the trial phase with the uniforms.

LI ZHIXIONG, PRINCIPAL GUIYANG LAKE DISTRICT YUANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL "The chip is non-toxic and doesn't cause radiation problems, with no GPS tracking system. These smart uniforms have helped strengthen school security. If students from other schools or strangers come onto our campus, there will be a voice announcement and our security guards can respond immediately. Also, the uniforms help locate students who are missing from class to see if they are still within the school campus."

The smart uniforms are seen as a component of an intelligent school campus. The company behind the technology, Guizhou Guanyu Technology hopes to improve communication between parents and teachers via this platform. With their own versions of the app, teachers can notify parents of the day's homework, upload the day's lessons and course work, and parents can revisit and revise these classes with their children at home.

The biggest benefit from the smart school uniforms, according to parents, is a sense of security and their children's improved learning abilities.

ZHENG YING MOTHER OF STUDENT "My son has become more confident, and can interact better with his teachers and students. He's an introvert, you see."

PENG TIANYING FATHER OF STUDENT "We are still a little worried if videos and personal details of our children will be leaked out. But once we see that the app's advantages can outweigh its shortcomings and potential costs, we parents can accept it."

Knowing the uniform's main purpose, this 12-year old student isn't upset.

LIU SU JIN JIE, STUDENT GUIYANG LAKE DISTRICT YUANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL "I don't mind, because as a middle school student, our main role is to study. So all these supervising, I am able to accept it."

WEI LYNN TANG GUIYANG, GUIZHOU PROVINCE "There is no GPS tracking system embedded into the uniform chip at this point, according to this school and the company behind this technology. This means the exact location of the students within and beyond the school campus cannot be traced. Even if that happens, many say it remains a balancing act to, on one hand, ensure the safety of the students, and the other, to protect their privacy. WLT, Guiyang in Guizhou province."