Chinese schools said to probe families when children come out as Christians

In Zhejiang province, central China, two families are under scrutiny after their children indicated they were Christians on a school form.

As reported by the international NGO Open Doors, which aids persecuted Christians globally, the students were mandated to fill out the form.

Upon the school’s review, the parents were summoned to verify the details and sign a statement ensuring they wouldn’t teach their faith at home.

A potential consequence for not signing the statement would be the students’ expulsion from the public school.

The NGO suggests that the region where this occurred is known for testing public sentiment on specific subjects, possibly to shape nationwide legislation.

Earlier in the year, a similar incident was shared by Open Doors involving a primary school in Wenzhou city.

This school sent notices to Christian families urging them not to teach their children religiously. A teacher then validated the situation to the NGO China Aid.

In the statement, parents vow not to “engage in or spread any religious activities.”

They also adhere to the Communist Party of China’s discipline and abstain from “illegal religious gatherings.” Wenzhou ranks among the Chinese cities with a significant Christian population.

In 2017, Christian churches and camps faced bans under China’s leader Xi Jinping’s directive, emphasizing a society founded on the Communist Party’s values.

China is ranked 16th on the list of countries with significant Christian persecution.

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