Chinese Students Allege Officials Sold Their Academic Records — and Ruined Their Lives

There is a bizarre story out of China where dozens of Chinese students have seen their future wiped out by the disappearance of the manila folders containing their records. In China, these paper folders follow a student throughout his or her career with every achievement, score, and prospect for a college education. While Chinese officials say that the folders were lost in a move of an office to a floor above, reformers believe that corrupt officials sold the folders to the parents of underachieving students, who then use their records to secure valuable jobs and college entrance.

In my travels to China, I have often been struck how draconian the system is for students. If they do not get into college, they are often stuck in low level jobs. Suicide among students who do not make the cut is common.

Xue Longlong is featured in the New York Times article below. A successful student, he is now struggling to get a construction job.
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