A School in Guangdong Sparks Controversy by Requiring Students to Sign a "Suicide is Not the School's Responsibility" Agreement

"liability waiver" (Screenshot from the Internet)

People News - According to reports, a middle school in Guangdong required all students to sign an agreement resembling a "liability waiver" stating, "If I engage in self-harm or suicidal behavior, the school shall bear no responsibility." This caused an uproar online, prompting the local education bureau to order the school to retract and nullify the agreement.

As reported by Radio Free Asia citing Xiaoxiang Morning News and Huashang Daily, Shuizhai Middle School in Wuhua County, Meizhou City, Guangdong, required all students to sign the agreement. It stated, "If I engage in self-harm or suicidal behavior, the school shall bear no responsibility. Neither I nor my parents or guardians will make any claims for loss or compensation against the school or its staff for any reason, nor will we disrupt the normal teaching order of the school."

The news drew widespread attention, with most netizens opposing the school’s approach. Critics argued that if students engage in self-harm, it is often due to unresolved issues that the school failed to address, such as preventive measures or access to psychological counseling. Even with such an agreement, the school would still be held accountable. Others noted that as minors, students lack legal capacity, making such agreements legally invalid. Many condemned the school for trying to shirk responsibility and lacking legal understanding.

This year, multiple incidents of students taking their own lives at school have sparked parents to hold schools accountable. In discussions surrounding related news, some netizens remarked that being a teacher has now become a high-risk profession.