Warning: This report contains details of physical and sexual abuse and discussion of suicide.
Baobao's heart still races when she smells soil after morning rain, sending her back to harrowing memories of military drills and fear during her six-month detainment at Lizheng Quality Education School, which sought to 'correct' rebellious teens.
A recent investigation has uncovered numerous allegations of abuse across a network of schools in China aimed at controlling so-called disobedient youth. These revelations spotlight a disturbing industry profiting from parental anxiety regarding youth behavior.
Undercover research has revealed practices including simulated police operations to abduct children, ruthless corporal punishment, and severe physical training disguised as rehabilitation. Accounts from former students reveal that conditions often resemble forms of torture rather than education.
Despite an official ban on corporal punishment, testimonies from 23 former students indicate rampant physical abuse. Others describe sexual harassment and assault, raising alarms about the safety and ethical practices of these institutions.
Further complicating the situation, many parents, either unaware or desperate, consent to sending their children to these institutions believing they will resolve issues like internet addiction or mental health struggles.
The investigation highlights how challenges facing parents, including societal pressure for academic success, often culminate in choosing these non-regulated schools, despite emerging stories of systematic abuse.
As the investigation continues, survivors like Baobao and Enxu courageously tell their stories, advocating for the dismantling of an industry that thrives on fear and abuse, with the hope of preventing future generations from suffering in silence.
