Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Stolen School Records Rob Chinese of Their Future

By Mat Probasco, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 27, 2009 4:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – Missing or stolen school records are turning Chinese students' once bright futures into nightmarish misfortune, reports the New York Times. Without the documents, graduates have no proof of their degrees and honors, and the would-be chemists can quickly become day laborers. The likely culprit of the missing files? Mistrusted Communist Party state workers who sell the records to parents of deadbeat students seeking to reinvent themselves.

Student files are a major moneymaker for corrupt bureaucrats. Earlier this year, a former township official in Hunan Province paid $7,000 for stolen records so his daughter could get into a good college. Parents of victimized students who complain aren't getting any satisfaction. “We are so exhausted,” said one mom. “Our nerves are about to snap from this torture. The officials who were responsible not only have not been punished, they have been promoted.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Without the documents, graduates have no proof of their degrees and honors. Would-be chemists are now day laborers. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)

Without the documents, graduates have no proof of their degrees and honors. Would-be chemists are now day laborers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

If you don’t have it, just forget it! No matter how capable you are, they will not hire you. Their first reaction is that you are a crook. - Wang Jindong, 27, on school records

“When the central government talks about the economy and development, it sounds so great. But at the local level, corrupt officials make all their money off of local people.” - Wang Jindong, now a day laborer.

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

Man Goes to Hospital For Kidney Stone...Leaves a Woman (Huff Post)

Is Chase Crawford Dating a Cougar? (Bleacher Report)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

7 Gross Celebrity Items Sold at Auction (The Week)

The Lowest-Rated Show on TV Is Actually Awesome (Slate)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 4 comments

jagerhans

Jul 27, 2009 12:57 PM CDT

china has managed to put together all the worst woes of communism and capitalism, without any of the benefits. big empires just don't work, the romans found out some 1700 years ago but no one realized.

HappyHabenero

Jul 27, 2009 11:47 AM CDT

BPL is a workable tech....the problem is the interferance with any telecommunications , all the power lines and houses wired up to it...become antennas so to speak, and radiate digital hash over a huge chunk of spectrum...interferes with ham radio, military, and businesses that use wireless radios...makes them effectively "jammed"

Timinator2K

Jul 27, 2009 1:15 AM CDT

I've been wondering what BPL has been up to lately, not-to-good, eh? If it actually worked, WOW but, it sounds like it may go the way of "cold fusion" and the Dodo bird.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Cops Shoot Naked Guy Eating Man's Face on Highway

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

New York Times (Source Grid »)

World

China • chinese schools

More Newser Stories

Blind Activist's Brother Makes It Back Home

Chen Guangcheng's brother had disappeared after fleeing his village

(NEWSER) - The brother of blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has returned home to his village after apparently vanishing yesterday in Beijing, Reuters reports. Chen Guangfu, a 55-year-old laborer and farmer, had fled his home earlier this week to seek legal help for his son, who is in Beijing facing attempted murder charges. The family grew worried when Chen Guangfu failed to return to his hotel room last night, reports the Guardian . More»

US Aircraft Riddled With Fake China Parts

Senate report finds 1,800 cases, blames crappy supply chain

(NEWSER) - The US military's planes and helicopters are full of counterfeit electronic parts, most of which originated in China, according to a new Senate report. The year-long Armed Services Committee probe identified 1,800 cases of fake parts being found in aircraft, particularly in Navy helicopters, cargo planes, and Poseidon jets. More than 70% of the fake parts hail from China, with the UK and Canada being the next-biggest culprits, the BBC reports. More»

Chen Guangcheng's Brother Flees Chinese Village

Chen Guangfu hoping to protect son from local officials

(NEWSER) - The brother of Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has followed in his younger brother's footsteps and fled their closely guarded village in Shandong province, reports AP . Chen Guangfu has made his way to Beijing with the help of supporters, and is now seeking legal advice on how to protect his son from what he believes is retaliation from local officials infuriated by the activist's escape from house arrest last month. He says he managed to elude village guards by avoiding roads and running through fields. More»

New Rule for Beijing Public Toilets: Only 2 Flies

China's capital seeks to clean up bathrooms

(NEWSER) - The Chinese government is implementing new rules to spruce up its capital city's notoriously dirty public bathrooms. The weirdest of the bunch: a toilet in Beijing can be home to a maximum of two flies, reports the BBC . It's not clear how rigidly the measures will be enforced, but the idea apparently is to make restrooms in tourist areas a little less unpleasant. More»

In Biggest-Ever Buy of US Company, China Grabs AMC

Dalian Wanda Group Co. to pay $2.6B for chain

(AP) - A Chinese conglomerate announced today it will buy major US cinema chain AMC for $2.6 billion in China's biggest takeover of an American company to date. Dalian Wanda Group Co. says its purchase will create the world's biggest movie theater operator. The Beijing-based company said it will invest an additional $500 million to fund AMC's development. "We support AMC becoming bigger, not only in the United States but in the global market," said Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin at a signing ceremony for the acquisition. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Stolen School Records Rob Chinese of Their Future

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

China • chinese schools

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Blind Activist's Brother Makes It Back Home

Chen Guangcheng's brother had disappeared after fleeing his village

US Aircraft Riddled With Fake China Parts

Senate report finds 1,800 cases, blames crappy supply chain

Chen Guangcheng's Brother Flees Chinese Village

Chen Guangfu hoping to protect son from local officials

New Rule for Beijing Public Toilets: Only 2 Flies

China's capital seeks to clean up bathrooms

In Biggest-Ever Buy of US Company, China Grabs AMC

Dalian Wanda Group Co. to pay $2.6B for chain

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?