A ten-year-old boy from Jiangsu, China attempted to end his life in protest of the intense study schedule he was ordered to follow.
The student, identified as “Xiao Jie,” wanted a break from his grueling study routine. He sneaked out of his home when the opportunity came.
When his mother “Zhu Lin” realized he was not around, she went out to search. He was eventually found with peers and ordered to return to their house.
But Xiao Jie did not want to go home yet. Because of this, the mother-and-son argued, which led to Zhu Lin beating her child.
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According to Shanghaiist, Xiao Je threatened to break off ties with his mother and headed straight to an active road. He was planning to die.
Luckily, authorities were quick to rescue and pulled Xiao Je out before anything unfortunate took place. Zhu Lin was reprimanded over the academic pressure she had been placing on her son’s shoulders.
Police found out that Xiao Je had no free time and that all he wanted was to relax. The two eventually reconciled after repeated persuasion, NetEase said.
Zhu Lin vowed to be more sensitive over her child’s feelings.
China has since been noted for having rigorous study routines for its students. Back in 2012, high school students were allegedly hooked to IV fluids as they prepared for the national college entrance test, also known as Gaokao. In 2014, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) informed that about 500 students commit suicide each year.
Academic excellence is valued in most Asian countries as the determinant for success in life. Culture has it that students who get the best grades get into the best schools, and those who graduate from the best schools get the best jobs. As a natural consequence, the best jobs are expected to pay the highest, leading to “success” in life.
