‘Maybe for modelling lessons’: mandated US$560 school uniforms at private school in China spark anger over ‘commercial’ creep in education
- Private school in south of country faces sanctions by authorities over abuse of voluntary purchase rules
- Observers on social media irked at way commercialism is creeping into ‘every facet’ of education environment

A private secondary school in China has sparked controversy on mainland social media for charging more than 4,000 yuan (US$560) for its school uniforms.
The institution at the centre of the storm is the Guang Zheng Preparatory School, which was founded in 2004 and is situated in Dongguan in Guangdong province, southern China.
A private institution, it teaches primary, middle and high school, and students who aspire to attend international universities.
In a recent admissions notice, the school said uniform fees for high school students would be 4,033 yuan for males and 4,043 yuan for females.
A member of staff told the news media outlet, Xi Bu Jue Ce, that uniforms came in a package which contains about 30 individual, high-quality, branded items.
“We provide all types of uniforms at once, including regular uniforms, formal attire, and winter and summer outfits which include tops, trousers, socks and shoes.