Controversy over huge cash rewards for excellent students

GD&TĐ - Dai Giang International School, China, awarded one million yuan to a female student admitted to Tsinghua University.

This event caused mixed reactions in public opinion, including criticism that it was linked to achievement and material things.

In early August, Dajiang International School held a graduation ceremony for the class of 2025, honoring and awarding cash prizes to outstanding students. A female student surnamed Luo, who was admitted to Tsinghua University, one of the top universities in the country, was awarded one million yuan. Cash piled up on the stage like “a small hill” along with a red banner emblazoned with the words “Tsinghua University.”

Images circulating on social media show that not only this female student, but also several other students received large rewards. Students who passed Zhejiang University or the University of Hong Kong received 150,000 yuan and freshmen at Huazhong Agricultural University received 10,000 yuan.

The online community had mixed reactions to the event. Many congratulated the female student and expressed envy at the amount of money she received. Others said that this reward was “too ostentatious” and could make many students think that grades are tied to material things.

As a result, the Guigang City Education Bureau has ordered an end to this “abnormal activity.” An official said the state discourages the public release of gaokao scores and the turning of academic performance into blatant material displays.

In fact, the reward policy of Dai Giang University has been in place for many years and has been adjusted periodically. In 2022, the reward for students who pass Tsinghua or Peking is 500,000 yuan, half of the current level. Students who pass average schools will only receive about 3,000 yuan.

For many high schools, having students admitted to top universities such as Tsinghua, Peking, etc. is not only a great joy, but also contributes to improving achievements and affirming the quality of teaching and learning. Therefore, after each university entrance exam, many high schools are ready to launch a “huge” bonus policy to both show off achievements and attract good students.

In some eastern provinces, homeroom teachers whose students passed the Beijing or Tsinghua exams even received hundreds of thousands of yuan in rewards and excellent titles. This contributes to the pressure to compete for achievements.

In July, a teacher in Jiangxi scolded a student for not filling out his application for two top schools, despite his qualifying scores. The teacher’s reaction showed a biased mindset, favoring only top schools over the students’ actual desires.

Education expert Xiong Bingqi said that the cash rewards are actually a marketing strategy of Dai Giang to promote its name and recruit students. He warned that using “huge” scholarships will instill in students and parents a pragmatic concept that learning is linked to short-term financial rewards.

While the Chinese government is trying to ease academic pressure and promote holistic education, many schools are still chasing the glory of achievement with huge financial rewards. The question is, should recognition of achievement be measured in cash, or should education be geared towards long-term values ​​- where success is defined by the comprehensive development of each student?

The Guigang incident reflects the growing marketization of education in China, where exam results have become a tool for promoting and competing for schools. With a huge population and increasingly fierce gaokao pressure, a place in Tsinghua or Beijing not only opens the door to a career, but also brings prestige to the family and the school.

According to SCMP

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tranh-cai-thuong-tien-khung-cho-hoc-sinh-gioi-post745397.html