□ Reporter Wen Zhonghao, Intern Zhang Chao
Xinhua News Agency - Two days ago, I learned from Yexian Senior High School in Pingdingshan City that after our newspaper reported on the school's collection of dishwashing and boiling water fees, the Yexian County Party Committee and County Government formed a working group led by the vice-county magistrate to conduct an investigation. The investigation found that the situation reported indeed existed, and warnings were issued to relevant school leaders. The merchants responsible for the charges have been ordered to stop collecting dishwashing and boiling water fees, and they were fined 20,000 yuan.
Yesterday afternoon, Principal Yin Guangyao of Yexian Senior High School told me that the working group discovered through their investigation that Zhenzhou Cleaning Service Company, which is responsible for cleaning tableware, did indeed charge students through certain homeroom teachers. In response, the working group and the school have ordered the company to immediately stop collecting dishwashing fees, fined the company 20,000 yuan, and used the fine to assist extremely impoverished students. The school has also required Director Ma Depo of the General Affairs Office to write a self-examination report and issue him a warning. Zhenzhou Cleaning Service Company will provide free and sufficient hot water to each class every day.
Since the school was aware of the collection of dishwashing and boiling water fees long ago, why has it taken so long to take action? Regarding this, Principal Yin still claimed, as he did in the previous interview, that it was voluntary on the part of the students. However, one student from the school told me that they never agreed to such practices; it was entirely "forced voluntarism."