Beijing education commission to review mobile apps

Beijing Municipal Commission of Education said local schools should not publish examination results to students and their parents via WeChat group chats, according to a guideline released by the commission on Tuesday.

All 18 districts and counties in the commission's jurisdiction have been asked to conduct a thorough investigation on mobile apps, WeChat and QQ group chats, as well as social media accounts used by primary and middle school students by March 1, so as to provide a better cyberspace environment for students.

The guideline said that if inappropriate information, like pornography, online games, or commercial advertisements, is found, the APP should be suspended for use and deleted. Social media accounts should not be followed if similar content is discovered.

The commission also required the apps' operating companies to report to public security and cyber management departments if illegal content appears on the platforms.

Parents are advised to cautiously download apps tailored for underage students.

The guideline also stressed the necessity of scrutinizing apps designed for schoolwork. Schools should be the first gatekeeper to select and go through the information listed, and then local district education commissions should follow with a thorough review and put everything on record.

Apps that have been approved by the schools should be employed effectively and exclusively for teaching purposes only. The number of apps approved should be limited so as not to increase students' workload. Apps that haven't been reviewed are forbidden to be used among students on campus, according to the guideline.

No institution or individual should promote, advertise or sell apps on campus.

A daily supervision system is also required to be set up and complete in local districts and schools for authorities to be informed of the latest app updates and deal with harmful information, the guideline added.

It regulates that online group chats used by members of primary and middle schools should communicate and spread information focused on schoolwork only, and administrators and leaders of such group chats should take the initiatives to guide the information shared.