Chinese school sparks controversy by establishing 'canteen for gifted students'

A Chinese high school has sparked controversy for setting up a "student dining area" for students with high scores.

According to SCMP , Chinese public opinion has recently been stirred up by information that Shishichengfei Middle School in Sichuan province, southwest of the country, provides high-class lunches for a group of students with high scores.

Viral images show that the students' dining table in the school cafeteria was marked "A-Class Student Area". Their food portions were more lavish than those of the students at other tables.

A dining table with a sign reading "Dining Area for Excellent Students" in the canteen of Shishichengfei Middle School in Sichuan Province, China. (Photo: Douyin)

After a video of the school lunch discrimination went viral and sparked controversy, the school issued a public apology.

According to the school, the students with the best overall scores, the students with the highest scores in a subject and the students who made the most progress in each grade in the December test, will enjoy a better lunch and a small gift.

This award is given only once a month after each test and does not discriminate against any student but simply appreciates academic achievement.

The school admitted the award was a "poor decision that caused negative effects" and announced it had cancelled the program, pledging to "care for the welfare of all students".

“Every student has their own advantages. Schools should encourage them to shine on their chosen path instead of dividing them into groups based on a test,” one netizen commented.

Another commented: “To me, this looks more like a company than a school.”

There are also opinions on the school's side: "They get better meals thanks to their own hard work."

Another netizen wrote: “Since our education system is exam-oriented, I don’t see any problem with ranking students based on test results. Students would still be under the same pressure even without these flashy awards.”

Students in China are under enormous academic pressure. In 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Education banned primary and secondary schools from publishing student rankings.

In recent years, schools in China have tried to adopt a more open educational approach aimed at facilitating students' “all-round development.”

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/truong-hoc-trung-quoc-gay-tranh-cai-khi-lap-khu-an-uong-danh-cho-hoc-sinh-gioi-ar916228.html