Help me! China school installs toilet alarms to tackle bullying as campus violence problem persists
- Voice-activated system is triggered by victim yelling key words
- String of high-profile incidents raises public awareness about bullying problem
A school in China has won plaudits for installing an extensive alarm system – including in its toilets – to prevent bullying.
The Aofeng School in Fujian province in southeastern China said in March that the pilot system targeted the toilets specifically because administrators knew that was where a lot of bullying took place.
The school has students at both primary and secondary level.
According to a demonstration video, students who feel threatened can shout trigger words, such as “help” or “I’m being beaten,” which will alert devices placed around the premises that someone is in danger.
The devices notify teachers on their computers, and they can use an app on their phone to speak to the students via a speaker at the location.
A “surveillance” feature allows teachers to use cameras to monitor what is happening where the device is installed.