Actress accused of 'faking' records to take gaokao

Authorities in northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region have accused an actress of using falsified records to take the country's national college entrance exam, also known as gaokao, in 2008.

The actress, identified in Chinese media as Nashi, has garnered significant attention online, with the accusations leveled against her by authorities spreading widely on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo.

Nashi gained popularity for her role as a female general in Creation of the Gods II, which was the third highest-grossing film at this year's Spring Festival. She also features on a TV series, The Litchi Road, which is currently airing.

In a recent interview, Nashi stated that she graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy through a commissioned training program designed to develop specialized talent for ethnic and underdeveloped regions.

Her subsequent pursuit of a master's degree in Norway, rather than returning to work in Inner Mongolia as required by the program, sparked public questions on how she was able to break the agreement.

A statement released on Saturday by Inner Mongolia's education department stated that a joint investigation found that Nashi had registered for the 2008 national college entrance exam as a graduating student from Hohhot No 8 Middle School. However, officials stated she had never attended the school and had no official student record there — a violation the department described as "suspected fraud in college application materials".

According regional rules at the time, students were required to possess valid household registration and verified academic records to qualify for the gaokao.

In 2008 Nashi was admitted to the Shanghai Theatre Academy through a government-sponsored program. This initiative was launched in 2007 under an agreement between Inner Mongolia's cultural authorities and the academy. From 2008 to 2020, the program enrolled students with the understanding that graduates would return to Inner Mongolia to work in their respective fields. Participants, including Nashi, signed contracts agreeing to these conditions.

In 2012, after completing her undergraduate studies, Nashi applied to retrieve her diploma and degree certificate to pursue a master's degree in Norway. The request was approved, and she did not return to fulfill her employment obligations in Inner Mongolia, according to the investigation.

While her documents were legally returned following a review, the case has raised broader questions about the enforcement of such contracts and the oversight of special training programs funded or facilitated by public resources.

Commentators online have characterized the incident as a warning about the potential abuse of the education system.

Authorities stated the investigation is ongoing and vowed to hold relevant parties accountable in accordance with laws and regulations. They also pledged to review existing policies and strengthen oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future.