Revision Chinese-style: Pupils hooked up to drips to give their brainpower a boost



A class of children sit revising for make-or-break exams to get them into the college of their choice.

It’s the sort of scene that could be seen in high schools across the world but for one important difference: The pupils have intravenous drips hanging over their desks.

The image is taken from footage that claims to reveal the controversial use of the drips to boost pupils’ ability to study at a school in Xiaogan, Hubei province, China.

Hooked up: Students in Xiaogan can be seen attached to IV drips after education bosses tried the unusual method to keep their energy levels up

Under pressure: The Chinese are prospective high school graduates looking to complete college entry exams Convenient: Students were given the drips to apparently save them from having to go back and forth between the classroom and the school's infirmary

The teenagers were offered intravenous fluids to maintain their health levels as they prepared for June’s National College Entrance Exam, reports in China claimed.

The fluids are reported to contain concentrated amino acids, which help with general health, stamina and keeping the students calm.

The footage – which was recorded by a student at the school and shows darkness outside during the study session – has been viewed thousands of times online.

In China, the state grants a subsidy for pupils participating in the exam to visit their school’s infirmary if they feel unwell and receive the amino acids via a drip.

In this case, students were apparently allowed to have the drips in the classroom to save them having to go back and forth from the infirmary and lose study time.

School spokesman Gao Pingqiang told local media: ‘We’re happy to carry on if students want to.’

Mr. Xia, director of Office of Academic Affairs, told ChinaNews24 that students are administered with amino acids intravenously to keep their energy levels up.

He said: 'The state grants a 10-yuan subsidy for amino acids to each graduating senior that will participate in the gao kao (National College Entrance Exam).

'Any student that feels not well can go to the infirmary and take amino acids on the IV drip.'

School bosses have defended the controversial method by saying students are only fed amino acids for energy through the drips

A teacher looks over the shoulder of a Chinese student in Hubei province as they study while hooked to the IV drip

The National College Entrance Examination in China is a series of exams taken by students in their final high school year, allowing them to enroll at higher education establishments.

The tests take place in June and are often a make-or-break exam as to whether students get into their chosen college, or even get into college at all.