Scandal reminds of public supervision
The students' bonus-point scandal in Chongqing shows the power of rules is limited without control. It is believed that external supervision is the best way to avoid abuse of power, says an article in Yangtze Evening News. Excerpt:
He Chuanyang, top liberal arts student of Chongqing, faked his ethnic identity as a member of a minority group to get bonus points in the national college entrance exam. He's father is director of the local admission office and abused his position to get him the ethnic group's membership certificate.
It would be a bit harsh if He is disqualified from getting into college, according to the national policy. After all, the fraud was discovered before he got admitted to a college, and even without the bonus points he top-scored in Chongqing. There's no doubt that he is the best student of the municipality.
People may wonder why He's father took the risk of faking his son's ethnic identity when his son was an excellent student. It only shows that the power of rules is limited if there is no control on the person implementing them.
Some officials and staff have no respect for rules, and think it's a mere formality to comply with them.
It is believed that external supervision is the best way to guarantee rules are implemented properly. The bonus-point scandal is the best example of the power of public supervision because it was reported by the public.
(China Daily 07/01/2009 page9)
