Sales on campus targeting pupils must be banned

Officers from a local law enforcement department tell citizens about methods to identify pirated books and discs at a square in Yuquan district, Hohhot on March 14. [Photo/nmgnews.com.cn]

A COMPANY called Keshi Shiguang Optical Technology in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan province, reportedly organized unqualified teams to do eyesight tests for pupils in hundreds of primary and secondary schools in the city and surrounding areas, tricking the pupils and their parents into buying ortho-k contact lens, which might harm the wearers' health. An editorial on thepaper.cn comments:

On Wednesday, International Day for Consumer Rights and Interests, China Central Television covered the case among others. The local authorities took immediate action and closed the company.

The local government is rather efficient. However, the closing of the company is far from enough.

The company did illegal business in a special way: They held lectures in primary and secondary schools, and organized unqualified staff to do eyesight "tests" for the pupils. What role did the school officials play in the process? Did any of them help the illegal business to cheat pupils?

It would be very serious if the school officials helped the company in its illegal business activities, because that might mislead parents and pupils into believing the company had official support. In other words, the school officials who helped the illegal business, if there were any, were abusing parents' trust in them.

That's why many local education departments ban companies from holding commercial activities on campus and prohibit school officials from getting involved. It is time for higher authorities to probe the case in Zhengzhou and find out whether any school official was involved in the process.