Annals of outrageChinese government forbids schools from charging security fees

Published 3 June 2010

China has been witnessing an alarming — and painful — trend of deadly attacks on schools and kindergartens across the country; in five such attacks in the last two months, 17 children were killed and more than 50 wounded; schools began to install CCTVs and intrusion detectors and hire guards — but many told parents that they would have to pay for this additional security; the Chinese government has now banned the practice, and told schools to refund monies already paid

Schoolchildren under the watch of security personnel // Source: shanghaiist.com

China has a school security problem: in the last couple of months, five assaults against schoolchildren across China have killed seventeen and hurt more than fifty, prompting tighter security at schools. Psychologists and social scientists say that because children occupy a unique role in Chinese culture, people who are disgruntled or disaffected target children for attack not only because they are easy victims, but also because deadly attacks on children send shock waves through the Chinese society in a way that is more intense than in other cultures.

In response to the attacks schools have began to install CCTVs and intruder alarms and hire guards — but many of these schools charged parents for the added security, telling worried parents that if they wanted their kids to be safe in school they would have to pay up.

The Chinese government has now banned schools from charging fees for hiring guards and installing security systems to protect students from violence. AP reports that a notice posted on the National Development and Reform Commission’s Web site Wednesday said schools should not charge for enhanced security and should refund such fees to parents if they have already been charged.

In the southwestern city of Chongqing, police were told they could shoot to kill to stop assaults on students.