Mainland social media has celebrated the strict security measures in place for the gaokao, China’s most critical examination. The university entrance exam is known for its stringent security protocols to ensure fairness and justice for all participants, according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV.
This year, more than 13 million people, mostly secondary school graduates, took the gaokao, marking the highest number in China’s history and intensifying the competition. The exam’s significance in shaping a young person’s future is emphasized by the comprehensive measures taken to protect its integrity.
About three months before the exam, a select group of senior teachers from secondary schools and universities are chosen to design the test papers. These educators are sent to remote and isolated parts of Beijing, including military facilities or prisons, where they undergo training in maintaining secrecy. During this period, they are only allowed to contact their families using landline telephones under strict supervision and are completely disconnected from the internet. The test designers remain in these secluded locations until the exam is held.
Most of the test papers are printed in prisons under the supervision of both the Ministry of Education and the National Administration of State Secrets Protection. These print workshops are heavily secured with 24-hour surveillance, including cameras and guards. Print workers are required to stay in isolated premises and are managed rigorously to prevent any security breaches. The test papers are then transported across the country under armed guard, with security measures surpassing those used for bank cash transport. The vehicles and their routes to the test centers are kept under strict surveillance to ensure safety.
Before being distributed to test-takers, the gaokao papers are stored in designated secure warehouses, guarded around the clock by security staff. The extensive security measures surrounding the gaokao have garnered significant interest on mainland social media.
One Weibo user expressed amazement at the level of secrecy involved, saying, “The secrecy-maintenance endeavor is beyond my imagination! Thanks to the authorities for putting so much effort into keeping the test papers a secret.” Another user highlighted the importance of fairness in the examination process: “For most of us, gaokao is the only route to success. So it must be carried out in a fair way.”
The elaborate security architecture for the gaokao underscores its critical role in Chinese society, ensuring that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed. The measures taken reflect the high stakes of the examination and the commitment to maintaining its integrity.
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