"If You Have Good Grades, Premium Lunchbox"... Controversy Erupts Over Food-Based Discrimination at Chinese School

Chinese Middle School Creates 'Top Student Dining Area'
"Discrimination Over Meals?" Criticism Grows, School Eventually Apologizes

A middle school in China was found to have created a separate dining area for high-achieving students and provided them with premium lunchboxes. As the school's discriminatory practice became public online, the system was eventually abolished. The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 25th that "Qingfei Middle School in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, faced backlash for setting up a 'High-Achieving Students Dining Area' in the cafeteria."

Students with good grades eating premium lunchboxes. Baidu

The middle school reportedly selected a few students each month based on criteria such as overall first place in monthly exams, first place in a subject, or the most improved student in the class, and provided them with premium lunchboxes and small gifts once a month. However, since the top-performing students rarely changed, the majority of students did not benefit from this system.

This sparked controversy as schools should treat all students fairly, especially in a shared space like the cafeteria. Netizens expressed anger, saying, "How can students learn discrimination starting from school?", "Dividing students into tiers for any reason goes against the essence of education," and "It makes even the beneficiaries uncomfortable."

In response to the controversy, the school eventually issued an official apology. While stating that the system was intended as a reward for high-achieving students, the school apologized, saying, "It was an inconsiderate decision that caused negative effects, and we will ensure the welfare of all students is treated fairly."

In recent years, China has been adopting a holistic education approach aimed at balanced development, moving away from purely academic-focused education. In 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Education banned the public announcement of academic rankings in elementary and middle schools.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.