A fire broke out in the dormitory of Yingcai School in Yanshanpu Village, Dushu Town, Fangcheng County, Henan Province on January 19 last year, resulting in the tragic deaths of 13 students and injuries to 4 others. Recently, the local court sentenced the school’s founder, principal, and class teacher to 6 to 7 years in prison. After the sentencing, the decision sparked controversy online. Many netizens believe that the class teacher, who disregarded her own safety to evacuate over a hundred students, not only did not receive a reduced sentence but also bore the main criminal responsibility for systemic safety flaws, which is clearly unfair.
According to previous reports, in the past two years since the campus fire in Fangcheng County, the authorities had failed to release the accident investigation report, causing dissatisfaction among the victims’ families. Under public pressure, on December 17, the authorities finally published the investigation report, attributing the fire to a primary school student using a lighter in the dormitory, igniting clothes and bedding, resulting in the tragedy. 25 individuals, due to inadequate supervision and management, were “disciplined.” In addition, individuals involved in the incident, including Li Yu, Xu Xiangyang, and Jia Xia, are facing trial for their involvement in a major safety accident related to educational facilities.
On December 19, the Fangcheng County Court in Henan Province publicly tried the case of the Fangcheng County campus fire. The school’s founder Li Yu, principal Xu Xiangyang, and class teacher cum dormitory manager Jia Xia, who were accused of committing major safety accidents related to educational facilities, were sentenced to 7 years, 6 years and 6 months, and 6 years in prison, respectively. Moreover, Li Yu, Xu Xiangyang, and Jia Xia are prohibited from engaging in any teaching-related professions for five years after the completion of their prison terms.
However, the verdict once again sparked skepticism online, with a large number of netizens expressing grievances for the class teacher Jia Xia. Many are puzzled as to why Jia Xia, who helped evacuate over a hundred students during the fire, is being punished on the same level as those deemed responsible for the incident.
Netizens argue that the school’s long-term violations, non-existent fire safety measures (lack of water in the fire hydrants, non-functional alarm systems), serious overcapacity in dormitories, and decision-making authority all lie with the school management and controlling parties. Yet, a 58-year-old grassroots teacher who is about to retire is being held primarily accountable for systemic safety flaws, indicating a lack of fairness.
Netizens have expressed outrage, stating, “This teacher is being treated unfairly.” “A 58-year-old teacher without a firefighting background risks her life to evacuate over a hundred students. The dormitory management was a forced duty, yet she is being sentenced. The arsonist and supervisors face no consequences? It’s simply unjust!” “Who dares to be a teacher now? To be a class teacher? This admirable individual has a bleak outcome, it’s utterly disgraceful!” “This school is not qualified to operate. What has the local education department been doing all this time?” “Is it fair to sentence a class teacher just because she was on duty that day? The class teacher has become a scapegoat. She discovered she can get two extra hours of sleep in prison compared to her usual routine.” “Why are the ‘rescuers’ punished in the same way as the ‘responsible parties’?” “Why isn’t ‘saving over a hundred lives’ considered a reason for a reduced sentence?” “The school’s violations, nonexistent fire safety measures, and a 58-year-old class teacher becomes a scapegoat? The sentencing is severely imbalanced.” “It’s all about blame-shifting at the grassroots level.”