Job Discussion Forums

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7980607.stm

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Cheating enters the 21st century! Seriously, while interesting, not entirely shocking. Cheating in school is a long-held tradition of students around the world. What is a little disconcerting is how (in this story) the teachers helped in order to earn a few hundred dollars and how far the parents went to actually show their children that cheating is okay in order to get ahead in life. Hmmmm.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Yes, unfortunately it's not too shocking. In China, the perception is that education is the difference between wealth and poverty, so for some, maybe, honesty and fairness have to wait. More places are made for students in universities every year but it is still very competitive. Of course more university graduates are competing for fewer jobs these days, so for some, hopefully the cheaters, it isn't the stepping stone it's billed as.

When labor jobs are viewed as trades and workers are paid for their skill, then perhaps there will be less pressure for those with less academic aptitude to study (or cheat) their way out of poverty. Those days aren't on the immediate horizon, not with the current population and economic problems.

Jayray · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 373 Location: Back East

Something similar was discovered in my college back home, though it did not involve purloined achievement test answers. A few students who were scheduled to take tests alone in separate conference rooms were found to be receiving text messages which were sent to them by their friends. It didn't make the news anywhere. The matter was settled in-house.

As long as there are people roaming the earth, there will be dishonesty. The problem is not unique to China.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"In court, one of the fathers involved said they had had high hopes for their children and the exams were vital for them to secure good futures." -- BBC News

As long as nearly everyone in China is convinced that all you need to succeed in life is access to particular institutions of learning, cheating to gain admission to them will seem like a perfectly viable option (as long as they don't get caught, of course). Parents will pay extra to get their children into a better high school then their test scores warrant, and again to get them into university. Paying for the answers to the gaukau may seem like a cost-saving measure. And how sad to see how little some of these students care about doing any actual learning once they get there, or even want to be there at all.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

You just can't help yourself, can you Vik - - I'm laughing at you:

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Well your quite welcome to laugh at me - but maybe your post would be improved by giving an opinion on why you think accepting a 1000RMB gift bears no relationship to other attempts by parents to corrupt teachers in China!!!!!
At least then we'll have a better chance of finding out if your laughter is an Off-topic "I've already spent the money" gloat - or an On-topic "I can't see any relationship of getting 1000RMB from a parent to the subject of corruption" giggle Rolling Eyes

Come on Kev - lets have an opinion Wink