Hong Kong media outlets report a growing trend on Chinese university campuses, where life increasingly resembles the high-pressure environment of secondary school rather than higher education. Students describe mandatory morning exercises, evening study halls, intensive test-prep drills, and even parent–teacher conferences— routines they believed were behind them after surviving the grueling gaokao college entrance exam.
According to an analysis in Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily, the mounting pressures stem largely from China’s difficult job market, pushing more students to pursue graduate studies. Those hoping for direct admission to master’s programs—reserved for top undergraduates—are caught in an endless cycle of grades, rankings, and competition. Many say university feels like a “fourth year of high school,” with some claiming it is even more demanding than before.
The consequences can be devastating. Last month, a sophomore at Tongren University in Guizhou jumped into a campus lake and died by suicide. His note repeatedly cited the overwhelming pressure of compulsory study sessions. On social media, students lament that dreams of independence and exploration have been replaced by utilitarian course choices designed only to maximize GPAs, scholarship eligibility, and graduate admissions. Even dorm life has changed, as roommates see each other less as friends and more as academic rivals.
Universities have introduced increasingly strict controls—requiring attendance verification, banning electronic devices in class, and establishing parent WeChat groups to track students’ progress. Critics argue this approach contradicts the very purpose of higher education, which should foster innovation, critical thinking, and social responsibility rather than serve as an extended test-preparation program. The article concludes that an atmosphere of suffocating competition and control is stifling autonomy and preventing students from developing into independent, well-rounded adults.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 6, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202511060091.aspx