Fairness of teachers' critics questioned

The fairness of disciplinary action against 24 high school teachers who went to lunch in Shanxi province became the subject of media reports and postings by netizens after the local anti-graft commission issued a report condemning their behavior.

Critics expressed concerns that the teachers had been wrongfully accused of improper behavior by the commission after they spent a total of 1,390 yuan ($207) on a meal that included alcohol on Sept 9. The teachers paid for the meal themselves.

The commission in Tunliu county, Changzhi, issued a report on Sept 30 that was critical of what it characterized as improper behavior by the teachers that had a negative social impact. The commission did not specify exactly what it found to be improper.

All the teachers work at the county's No 1 High School.

Two teachers were required to publicly criticize themselves at a faculty meeting at the school. The other 22 were summoned before the commission, whose report was distributed widely.

The report raised questions among members of the public because each of the teachers paid for their own meal, appearing not to violate the "eight-point rule" prohibiting the use of public money for personal lunches.

A nationwide campaign against corruption, including the austerity rules, was launched in December 2012. The rules aim to reduce bureaucracy, extravagance and undesirable work practices of Party members.

According to Beijing Youth Daily, the case is under investigation by Changzhi city's commission of discipline, which governs the county-level commission. The city's commission told the paper on Thursday that the result will be released to the public in due course.

On Saturday, information circulated online stating that the head of the county commission had been removed from his post for improperly handling the teachers' case. But the report was false, according to the county, and an investigation is underway to find out who published it.