University denies place to student over ethnicity lies

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-02 20:08

CHONGQING: Beijing University on Thursday denied a senior high school graduate for lies about his ethnicity in order to get extra points in the national college admission test, though his test results qualified him for the country's top school.

He Chuanyang, who scored the highest in the southwestern Chongqing Municipality, was denied admission by Beijing University, his parents said Thursday.

The university's admission office confirmed the denial, saying it was following rules set by the Ministry of Education.

"We checked all the facts [about He's lying] and therefore decided to turn down his application," said Liu Mingli, head of the university's admission office. "We hope he will not make such mistakes again and be an honest person. We're ready to welcome him in the future."

Liu said the school would deny all other students involved in cheating scandals, too.

Beijing University was the only school He Chuanyang had chosen. The denial would most probably mean he had to take the test again next year.

He Chuanyang, a graduate of Nankai Senior High School, topped Chongqing's honor roll this year after scoring 659 points in the college admission test. He could have received, but did not get, 20 additional points if local authorities had not uncovered falsified documents on his ethnicity.

The boy's mother, Lu Linqiong, held the denial was unfair. "It was a mistake we made three years ago -- he was only 14 and knew nothing of our decision."

Lu said she and her husband just followed other families' suit to change the boy's ethnicity to Tujia minority group from the majority Han in July 2006.

Ethnicity is an important detail to be included in all official documents. Ethnic minorities often enjoy preferential treatment in college admission, recruitment to the People's Liberation Army and sometimes in job hunting.

Lu said her son's case was much publicized only because he had done exceptionally well in the test. "Had he not scored so high his name wouldn't have been posted on the Internet and Beijing University wouldn't have faced so much pressure."

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