Outrage Over China School Charging Unusual Fee for Student Naps: 'Is This a Joke?

A private primary school in China's Guangdong province, Jiesheng Primary School, is facing backlash for its decision to charge students for afternoon naps in the upcoming school year.

A viral screenshot of a school notice posted on WeChat listed three nap options with associated fees but provided no explanation for the charges, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.

According to the notice, students would be charged 200 yuan (US$28) for napping on their desks, 360 yuan (US$49.29) for napping on mats in the classrooms, and 680 yuan (US$93.10) for napping on beds in private rooms. The school has stated that teachers will be present to supervise the students during these nap sessions.

Local education officials in China noted that this regulation was not a unified decision but pointed out that private schools in the country had the authority to implement such policies. A staff member from the school confirmed the plan to charge students for afternoon naps, emphasizing that it was not mandatory and that the students could choose to go home during their lunch breaks.

The staff member also explained that the nap charges aligned with official regulations, and each school could decide the fee structure individually. A spokesperson from the Dongguan City Development and Reform Bureau supported the charges, stating that they were reasonable because teachers would be present to supervise the students during nap sessions.

On the Chinese social media platform Weibo, many users expressed criticism and disbelief regarding the new fee system. Some questioned the school's motives, while others found the idea of charging for napping unusual and even absurd. The announcement has sparked a heated debate online about whether it is appropriate to charge students for sleeping during school hours.

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