“There is a shortage of everything,” the principal said, crying. A primary school in Shaanxi was kicked out after being accused of exploiting disabled students by selling them and defrauding them of their assets.

“The principal said in the group: The students do not have enough food to eat, there is a shortage of clothes, the school’s air conditioners and fans have been out of order for many years, and the electricity bill is also very high.” Under the banner of enrolling disabled children for free at Hope Primary School in Jingping Town, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, it is suspected of using students to create a sad image, long-term fundraising and donations from the society, and even hoarding and reselling donated supplies. Principal Jhai Mauna and several relatives were arrested by police on suspicion of fraud in August this year, and the school was closed in accordance with the law. Media investigations found that the school not only enrolled children with special needs in violation of rules, but also collected various fees from parents, outstanding teachers’ salaries and donated materials that were not actually distributed to the students.

According to Xiaoxiang Morning News, Hands-on Hope Primary School was established in 2017. It has long claimed to be the only charity school in the country that enrolls handicapped, intellectually disabled, orphans and other underprivileged children for free through short video platforms and charity communities, attracting parents from all over the world to send their children to the school. However, the school has not achieved special education qualification and will only be allowed to enroll 20 general primary school students in 2026.

jingping cityEducation Bureau It said that in early February 2025, it was discovered that the school had illegally admitted children with special needs and a correction was requested, but the problem was never resolved. Many parents said that after their children were admitted to the school, the school charged them for food, living expenses, tuition assistance, diapers etc. Most of the money was transferred to the private accounts of the principal or relatives. One parent transferred 8,000 yuan (RMB, same below, about US$1,189) in the first half of 2025 alone. On the other hand, teachers’ salaries often remain outstanding, and some teachers have not received salaries even for three months after their departure.

What’s even more shocking is that the school claimed to be short of supplies, but was actually suspected of withholding donations. In June 2025, Zhai Mauna raised funds on the grounds that students lacked hot water for bathing. Caring people donated 6,000 yuan, and others bought four water heaters. In fact, the school had constructed a bathroom equipped with a constant-temperature hot water system as early as May of the same year, but it was never opened for students’ use. Instead, it was used to stack donated materials.

Thermos cups are also involved in similar situations. In the winter of 2025, caring people spent more than 7,000 yuan to order 320 thermos cups, and even engraved the names of students according to the 298-person roster provided by the school. However, the roster was suspected to be fake. The actual number of people at the school was much less than the number listed on the roster, and students were not given thermos cups.

Many teachers and students also accused the school of sending out food and supplies suitable for resale, leaving students with expired food. Some teachers said they saw school caretakers selecting good watermelons from the fresh ones sent to them and selling them, while the remaining rotten fruits were distributed to students. Students have to sort and pack the donated materials and work late into the night until 3 am. If they disobey, they may be scolded or beaten.

Police opened the case for investigation on March 26 this year, entered the premises on August 14, and took away Zhai Mauna and several related personnel. Police said the school was suspected of using disabled children to create a sad image, fabricating the school’s difficulties and lack of materials, and duping people across the country into donating money and materials. A large amount of donations and materials for the students remained unused.

The investigation also found that the school had previously been reported and asked by the Civil Affairs Department to stop ineligible public fundraising in 2025, but the school still continued the relevant behavior. Education, civil affairs and local regulatory authorities have their own views on the division of responsibilities and the problem has remained unresolved for a long time due to regulatory loopholes.