China launches a new pen before the school year starts. Provided by the government, students will be able to follow their writings live.
We already know the principle of “social credit” introduced by the Chinese state which “classifies” different individuals according to their actions. While surveillance is everywhere in the Middle Kingdom, one of the last bastions of freedom was still schoolyards. The latter, full of child neglect, were not targeted by the Chinese government.
But in the fall everything will be very different. In fact, the country’s national education minister has just announced that some primary and secondary school pupils will be assigned “linked pens”. Equipped with micro cameras, these new devices will keep track of all student writings.
Students are increasingly monitored
The original idea, announced by the government, is to allow teachers to monitor notes during class in real time. The teacher can see at a glance who is drawing in a corner of his paper, playing zeros and crosses with his neighbor at the table, or even if a student has decided to daydream, in fact he does not attend the course.
But this oversight, already more than questionable, goes beyond the simple frame of the classroom. Chinese students, in fact, will have to use the pen at home to do their homework. The teacher is notified every time it is used. As for the writings, they will be stored in the Chinese cloud, assures the government, explaining that this will allow teachers to quickly see their students’ homework.
An idea that does not convince
This decision has naturally aroused many reactions, especially in China. Many students criticize this implemented surveillance system. Because if the ministry ensures that the big launch will take place only in September, already today several young people are talking about these pens. A teacher from the island of Hanoi has allowed her students to use these devices since the beginning of July, with less than expected results.
At the moment, the process is only at the experimental stage, but it seems to be carried on high by personalities very close to power. Therefore, despite the poor response, the system will arrive in many classes in September and the Chinese government may decide to roll out nationwide in the coming years.
Recall that the Chinese school model is mainly based on competition. Students must learn to work harder than others from an early age to have a better life choice in the future. Academic success is key and many Chinese young people only think about their studies.