Chinese students win support from authorities

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The educational authorities in a Chinese city supported students after they complained that they were asked to return to schools about a week before the holidays ended.

Several high schools and a middle school in the city of Hengshui in north China’s Hebei Province, asked students last Sunday to return six days before the official reopening date, reported The Beijing News.

The local Education Bureau, however, intervened after the students complained and advised them not to attend school before the reopening date announced earlier.

The students found the schools demand unreasonable and reported the matter to media outlets as well as the local Education Bureau.

The issue gained widespread attention on Chinese social media.

Jizhou Middle School students raised the issue on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. /Weibo screenshot

The Education Bureau said the schools are not allowed to arrange extra classes during the holiday.

According to The Beijing News, Hengshui high school students' action is being viewed as a classic case of defending students’ rights, and they should be encouraged to take similar steps in the future.

The schools, however, may punish students for their initiative.

Liu Wenzhan, a high school student, was reportedly rusticated after he complained about extra classes from the school.

Another high school student in Hengshui was reported to have repercussion after he reported the similar activity.

Hengshui High School is known for excellence in education. /VCG Photo

Hengshui is s known for excellence in education and Hengshui High School is particularly popular, not only in Hebei Province but the whole country,for its high university enrollment rate.

One hundred seventy-nine graduates from the school entered Tsinghua University and Peking University in 2017, up from 142 in the last year.