ExplainerWhy armed China police and extraordinary security surround key national gaokao exam
- Teachers are kept under watch in secure facilities as they draft national test and exam papers are printed in designated prsions
Mainland social media has hailed the fact that test papers for China’s most important examination – known on the mainland as gaokao – are drafted under strict security and printed in designated prisons.
The university entrance examination enjoys the highest security classification in the country to ensure fairness and justice for every person who takes the test, the state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Success or failure in the test is widely recognised as being a key factor in deciding a young person’s future.
More than 13 million people, the majority of whom were secondary school graduates, took the examination this year, the highest number in China’s history, making the competition more intense than before.
The importance of the landmark exam is underlined by the measures in place to protect its integrity.
Top secret operation