Guangdong's Bixi Town Second Primary School raised 180,000 yuan for a cabling renovation and air conditioning installation project by soliciting funds from parents through WeChat QR codes, despite restrictions on school fundraising. Parents reported that children who refused to donate or contributed less faced public criticism from teachers. The local education bureau acknowledged their inability to regulate funds collected by educational promotion associations. The school posted a fundraising appeal on October 22, highlighting the need to renovate aging electrical wiring with a target of 180,000 yuan for air conditioning units. Receipts were meant to be made through a personal WeChat QR code provided by a secretary of the Bixi Town Education Promotion Association, Yuan Mou, who requested contributors to state their class, parent's name, and phone number. Parents expressed concerns that non-donors or minimal donors might be publicly criticized. In response to the controversy, the local education bureau stated they had already banned schools from requesting donations from parents, and if donations were made, they would require the school to return the funds. However, they admitted their powerlessness to regulate associations like the Education Promotion Association when collecting donations.
A reporter contacted the school's principal, Yuan, who questioned the caller's legitimacy and claimed that the funds would not be deposited into the school's account but managed by the Education Promotion Association. The principal also denied any discrimination against students who did not contribute. Despite the issue gaining attention, the specific actions taken by authorities to address the use of promotion associations for fundraising remain unclear.