Crime, Mental Health, and the Next Generation of China

On January 31, Wu Xieyu, a former student at Peking University who ruthlessly murdered his own mother back in 2015, was put to death. When it was first reported, the case of Wu prompted a societal level of introspection into the pressures and pitfalls of the Chinese education system. Following the event, in 2016, the government held the first-ever National Conference on Ideological and Moral Education in Colleges and Universities, in which initiatives to strengthen and improve moral education in high schools and universities were announced. 

Looking back after 8 years, the crime rate among teenagers and young adults remained approximately the same. Just last month, three middle school students bullied a classmate to death and hid his body in the backyard to cover up the crime. It seems like the implemented moral education courses have not done the job that they are supposed to do. To truly ensure the well-being of the next generation, the Chinese government needs to move the focus away from strengthening moral education to assessing the values presented in the education system and revise policies to foster an environment where learning thrives without detrimental consequences to the students' psychological and emotional states.

Right now, according to the report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2023, about 40% of Chinese teenagers experience mental disorders, a number that is three times the global average. Even though a variety of factors contribute to creating this phenomenon, it is very hard to overlook the Chinese educational system as one of the main driving forces behind the abnormal rate of mental disorders among teenagers.

The Chinese education system is known to the world for its highly competitive exams and rigorous standards. Success in this system can mean unparalleled opportunities and social mobility. However, this success comes at a steep cost, including intense stress, anxiety, and, in extreme cases, psychological breakdowns. The tragic story of Wu is a testament to the extreme pressures faced by students, where the fear of failure can drive individuals to unimaginable lengths.

Studies have shown that Chinese students report significantly higher levels of academic pressure compared to their peers in other countries. This relentless pressure begins early, with children as young as six facing entrance exams for prestigious primary schools. The gaokao, China's national college entrance examination, is a culmination of this pressure-cooker environment, where a single exam can determine a student's future prospects. Not only is the exam crucial to the future success of the student, but the exam is extremely difficult. The test is cumulative not for one term but for the entire duration of junior high and high school. Everything that was covered in the past six years could be featured on the nine-hour exam. In fact, if you search “the hardest exams in the world” online, Gaokao is among one of the most frequently appeared answers. The immense significance placed on academic success breeds an atmosphere of fear, competition, and at times, despair.

Some of the advocates for the current system argue that the competitive nature of the Chinese education system is necessary for maintaining high standards of excellence and preparing students for a competitive world. They highlight stories of triumph and resilience, particularly when students who come from underserved backgrounds overcome adversity to achieve great success. However, while competition can indeed foster excellence, when taken to extremes, it can also lead to detrimental effects on mental health, eventually leading the students to express themselves by committing crimes.

So how can we address these issues? One mistake that the government made is to assert that the increase in crime rate among teenagers is mainly caused by the lack of moral education and that there are not enough materials to educate students on what is right and what is wrong. However, looking at cases like Wu, he did not murder his mother because he thought that it was morally the right thing to do. The real reason behind his behavior is mental illness, which is caused by the enormous pressure that he bears which he did not know how to let out. So to make sure fewer tragedies like Wu would happen in the future, there needs to be a shift in societal values, where students are not solely evaluated by academic achievement but also by personal growth, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Schools should implement comprehensive mental health programs and provide resources to support students' well-being. Furthermore, reforming the examination system to reduce the overemphasis on rote memorization and promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills can help alleviate the pressures of the gaokao.

Counterarguments may posit that the pressures of the education system are a necessary evil as they prepare students for the harsh realities of life. However, preparing students for life's challenges does not necessitate breaking their spirits. Education should equip students with resilience, yes, but also with the capacity for joy, creativity, and mental agility. The true measure of an education system's success is not just the academic achievements of its students but their overall well-being and ability to lead fulfilling lives.

In conclusion, the tragic case of Wu Xieyu is a wake-up call to reexamine the values we instill in our young people through our education systems. It is imperative that we find a balance between fostering academic excellence and ensuring the mental and emotional well-being of students. Only then can we hope to nurture not just the minds but also the hearts of tomorrow's leaders, ensuring they emerge not as highly intelligent criminals but as successful scholars and well-rounded individuals.