Beijing: A bizarre and unfair rule has put a school in southern China under intense scrutiny.
As per the contentious policy at Ruyuan County High School in Guangdong province, students are reportedly allowed just one bathroom break during an entire term!
The controversial rule in one of the model schools in Guangdong, with about 3,200 students across 57 classes, was outlined in a PowerPoint presentation during an internal meeting last month, according to South China Morning Post.
This weird toilet policy got highlighted after a taken by a teacher during an internal management meeting was circulated online.
The school management spelt out consequences for students who use the bathroom more than once during the term.
For a second ‘visit’ to the bathroom during the same term, students will have to ask their parents to come to school and work with the administration on their education. A third occurrence could lead to punishment, although its form wasn’t specified.
The bathroom rule was reportedly part of the school’s efforts to keep classrooms orderly. It also placed responsibility for discipline on teachers.
“Managing classroom discipline is among a teacher’s responsibilities,” the policy stated.
The almost inhuman rule has raised questions about how the school handles classroom discipline while accommodating students’ basic needs.
An unidentified school official initially said the reported toilet limit was a “misunderstanding”, before referring to the claim as a “rumour”.
The local education authority is probing the matter after receiving complaints about the reported toilet restrictions.
Strict school regulations have been a subject of debate and discussion in China, especially rules governing what students can do during class and scheduled breaks.
Last year, a parent in Sichuan alleged that a secondary school in Chengdu required students to stay inside their classrooms during the 10-minute break instead of allowing them to step out, with the time reportedly used for studying.
Recently, a primary school in Shanghai was reported to have restricted students from using the playground during break periods and lunchtime.
China’s Ministry of Education in March issued a document addressing 20 forms of unregulated school behaviour. These included interfering with students’ rest time, restricting physical activity and assigning excessive homework.