Vocational school helps shape destinies (3)

Rong Lanxiang (center), president of Shandong Lanxiang Senior Technical School, with his students. [ZOU HONG/CHINA DAILY]

Once students start at the school, they lead a semi-military life. For example, they have to fold up their blankets and make them box-shaped, just as Chinese soldiers do. Their phones have to be turned off and put in certain place in their classrooms during lessons.

Meanwhile, the closed circuit TV monitoring system at the school covers almost every area.

Students have to stay on campus most of the time, only being allowed out on Sundays. Even then, they have to return before 6 pm. After lessons, students from each class will go to the canteen together in four orderly rows.

Each class has about 60 students, and the total number is more than 20,000. A single class is a highly autonomous body "governed" by a head teacher who is "contracted" and empowered to dispose of 70 percent of students' tuition fees. He pays his teachers money from the 70 percent.

Money will be deducted to pay off losses for the school if students quit, and to cover medical expenses for those who are injured. That which remains covers the "contractors'" income.