Trapped and Affected: The Dark Reality of 'Reform' Schools in China

Sat Dec 13 2025 21:59:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A shocking look into China's disciplinary institutions for troubled teens, revealing abuse, abductions, and the grim experiences of former students like Baobao and Enxu.

An investigation has unveiled the distressing realities of schools in China that claim to reform rebellious teenagers. Former students recount experiences of severe abuse, abduction, and a lack of educational support. Institutions like Lizheng Quality Education School, operated under the military-style discipline model, have faced allegations of physical and sexual violence, raising questions about the ethics and legality of such establishments which continue to thrive despite bans on corporal punishment.

Warning: This report contains details of physical and sexual abuse and discussion of suicide.

Baobao's heart still races when she smells soil after morning rain.

It takes her back to military drills behind locked gates - a traumatic time during her six-month stay at the Lizheng Quality Education School where instructors sought to fix teens deemed problematic by their families.

The experiences shared by Baobao and others, who entered these institutions due to various behavioral issues, detail extreme physical abuse and psychological trauma. Reports indicate that students were beaten severely, confined without academic support, and faced sexual abuse from staff members.

The ongoing investigation conducted by BBC's Eye program has corroborated these troubling allegations through interviews with former students and documented evidence, revealing how these institutions operate under a guise of discipline.

Furthermore, the phenomenon of parental desperation regarding their children's behavior, coupled with societal pressure for academic success, leads to the proliferation of such facilities across China, despite regulations against corporal punishment.

In the wake of public outcry and police intervention following investigative findings, questions remain about how these schools can continue to operate and reinvent themselves, undermining educational laws and protecting vulnerable youth.