Inside China’s “Disciplinary Schools”: Teens Face Abduction, Abuse, and Military-Style Discipline

A network of private disciplinary schools in China is under intense scrutiny following shocking allegations of abduction, physical abuse, and sexual assault targeting teenagers labeled as “rebellious” or “problematic.”

Trapped Behind Locked Gates

Baobao, now 19 and speaking under a pseudonym, spent six months at Lizheng Quality Education School in Hunan province when she was 14. She recalls constant fear and harsh military-style drills. “Every single moment was agonising,” she says, describing beatings so severe that students could not sit or lie down for days.

A BBC Eye investigation gathered testimonies from 23 former students across five schools in Li Zheng’s network. Students reported extreme corporal punishment, sexual harassment, and abductions carried out by staff impersonating police or government officials—sometimes with parental consent. One former student claimed she was raped, and others, including Baobao, reported sexual assault by instructors.

Corporal punishment has been banned in China for decades. However, undercover footage and interviews reveal widespread abuse, including grueling physical routines that sometimes required over a thousand push-ups or prolonged military drills.

These schools market themselves as solutions for parents concerned about teenage disobedience, internet addiction, mental health, or gender identity issues. Fees can reach tens of thousands of yuan, with limited academic instruction provided.

Enxu, 20, said she was taken to Shengbo Youth Psychological Growth Training School at 19 after conflicts with her parents over her transgender identity. She describes weeks of beatings, sexual assault, and invasive “counselling” sessions recorded for her parents.

Although Li Zheng was reportedly arrested earlier this year, associates have reopened new schools. Authorities occasionally shut institutions down, but they often reappear under new names, highlighting ongoing regulatory challenges.

Both Baobao and Enxu recalled suicidal thoughts during their stays. One classmate attempted to take her own life and was denied medical care, while counselling sessions provided little understanding or support.

Experts say family pressure, social expectations, and lack of systemic support drive parents to enrol children in these schools. Dr Yichen Rao, an anthropologist at Utrecht University, explains that urban middle-class families often feel they have “no other choice” for managing non-conforming children.

Baobao eventually escaped by feigning an eye problem. Enxu’s departure followed police intervention after her friends circulated smuggled letters documenting her ordeal, which went viral online. Authorities closed Shengbo school shortly after, citing administrative violations but did not address abuse allegations.