Imagine being told your child’s exam failure could be erased—for a price. That’s exactly what’s happening at a Chinese university, and it’s sparking outrage. A privately owned college in China has found itself at the center of a scandal after reports emerged that it was charging students up to 79,800 yuan (US$11,000) to join a dubious ‘micro study abroad’ program, promising to wipe their failing grades clean. But here’s where it gets controversial: the program doesn’t actually exist.
Xian Technology and Business College, a lesser-known institution in Xian, Shaanxi province, northwestern China, is backed by the Beijing Northern Investment Group. In mid-December, frustrated parents spoke out to Benliu News, claiming that teachers at the college pressured them into paying this hefty sum to ‘fix’ their children’s academic records. One parent shared a shocking account: ‘They deliberately failed my child in four exams, then told me we had two options: drop out or repeat the year. But then they offered a third way—pay 79,800 yuan for this so-called ‘micro study abroad’ program, and the failures would disappear.’
This scheme raises serious ethical questions. Is it fair to exploit students and families under the guise of academic redemption? And this is the part most people miss: the program isn’t just expensive—it’s entirely fictional. Students aren’t actually studying abroad; they’re simply paying to have their records altered. This practice not only undermines the integrity of education but also preys on vulnerable families desperate to secure their child’s future.
While the college has yet to publicly address these allegations, the controversy has ignited a broader debate about accountability in private education. Should institutions be allowed to profit from such questionable practices? Or is this just a symptom of a larger issue in China’s education system? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you think this is a one-off scandal, or does it reflect deeper problems? Let us know in the comments below.
