Guangxi School Crams 78 Students Into Single Dorm; Education Bureau Orders Rectification
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
A secondary school in Pingle County (平樂縣), Guilin City, Guangxi, has come under scrutiny after arranging for 78 students to share a single dormitory converted from a sports stadium. The severe overcrowding, revealed just before the September 1 semester opening, prompted widespread criticism and comparisons to prison conditions from a classic Hong Kong film. The county education bureau has since intervened, ordering the school to relocate students and address safety concerns.
Key Points
- The school converted a sports stadium and classrooms into temporary dormitories after demolishing the original student dormitory in July due to safety hazards .
- Social media footage showed the converted dormitory filled with bunk beds, leaving only narrow passages between them, prompting comparisons to the 1987 film "Prison on Fire" (《監獄風雲》) .
- Students and parents expressed concerns about evacuation safety, as the cramped conditions could cause serious obstacles during emergencies .
- The Pingle County Education Bureau (平樂縣教育局) ordered the school on September 1 to relocate affected students to a newly built campus within three days .
- The bureau also mandated 24-hour security and dormitory supervisor shifts, increased night patrols, and pledged a comprehensive safety inspection .
Why It Matters
This incident exposes systemic gaps in school infrastructure management during transitional periods, highlighting how cost-cutting measures can compromise student safety. The swift public backlash and official response demonstrate growing accountability expectations for educational facilities in mainland China, where dormitory safety standards have faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. The case also resonates with Hong Kong audiences familiar with the referenced film, creating a cultural bridge that underscores the severity of the overcrowding.
This incident exposes systemic gaps in school infrastructure management during transitional periods, highlighting how cost-cutting measures can compromise student safety. The swift public backlash and official response demonstrate growing accountability expectations for educational facilities in mainland China, where dormitory safety standards have faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. The case also resonates with Hong Kong audiences familiar with the referenced film, creating a cultural bridge that underscores the severity of the overcrowding.