A Chinese father has left people all across the globe stunned over his teen daughter’s grueling schedule… which involves 14 hour school days followed by hours of homework.
Ray Liu, 42, recently shared a video to TikTok that showcased his evening routine after picking up his 13-year-old daughter, Cindy, from school.
But one small detail caught the attention of millions: the teenager didn’t finish school until 8.30pm at night.
Now, he has spoken exclusively with the Daily Mail about the ‘unfair’ schooling in China.
‘As a father, it really breaks my heart. She’s still so young, yet she has to carry such heavy academic pressure,’ he said.
‘Sometimes when I see she has too much homework, I even want to help her with some of it – but the funny thing is, many of the questions are so difficult that I don’t even know how to do them myself.
‘It feels unfair. Children living on the same planet can have completely different childhoods.
‘But the world is unfair – what we can do is adapt to the environment we’re in and do our best to pursue the happy life that belongs to us.’
A Chinese father has left people all across the globe stunned over his teen daughter’s grueling schedule… which involves 14 hour school days followed by hours of homework
In the now-viral clip, which was viewed more than two million times, Ray spoke to the camera as he walked to pick up his daughter from school in the dark.
‘Hi guys, it’s 8.30pm, let’s go pick up Cindy together,’ Ray said. ‘She went to school this morning at 7am so she stayed at school for about 14 hours.’
After reuniting with his daughter, he asked her if she was hungry and tired and she answered ‘yes’ to both questions.
The duo got home at 9.12pm, and immediately, she started her homework, which took her about an hour and a half.
‘She doesn’t realize that she has no time of her own at all,’ Ray reflected.
His video quickly went viral, raking in more than two million views and sparking a fierce conversation about school in China.
Ray told the Daily Mail that his daughter can spend up to two hours doing homework after getting home from school.
And on the weekends, the work load is even ‘heavier.’
Ray Liu , 42, recently shared a video to TikTok that showcased his evening routine after picking up his 13-year-old daughter, Cindy, from school
But one small detail caught the attention of millions: the teenager didn’t finish school until 8.30pm at night
Ray told the Daily Mail that his daughter can spend up to two hours doing homework after getting home from school
‘Weekend homework is usually heavier, and she has this habit that she must finish everything on Saturday because she wants to enjoy a homework-free Sunday,’ he explained.
‘She often ends up working until midnight or even later. Her mom and I get very upset because we worry that staying up late is bad for her health, but she insists on finishing everything in the study room even with tears in her eyes.
‘Honestly, it really hurts to watch, but there’s nothing we can do.’
In addition, Ray revealed that she also has math and science tutoring on Saturdays for two and a half hours.
The dad explained that 14-hour school days are ‘quite common’ in the country.
‘It has always been this way,’ he explained. ‘When I was in middle school, I also spent 14 hours a day or even more at school.
‘But back then, I didn’t think it was a problem – I thought that’s just how it was supposed to be.
‘I think it’s related to the talent selection system: every student must take the college entrance exam to get into university, and most Chinese parents believe that getting into a good university is the only way to secure a good job and live a happy life.
‘As a father, it really breaks my heart. She’s still so young, yet she has to carry such heavy academic pressure,’ he said
He admitted that he ‘doesn’t think it’s a good system’ and said he feels like the ‘intense pressure’ being put on children in China is making them ‘lose’ out on a ‘happy childhood’
‘Chinese education is all about exams – endless theoretical lessons and test drills. It’s quite tedious, and kids easily lose interest in studying.’
He admitted that he ‘doesn’t think it’s a good system’ and said he feels like the ‘intense pressure’ being put on children in China is making them ‘lose’ out on a ‘happy childhood.’
‘It affects their physical and mental health,’ he added.
That’s why he decided to post about it on TikTok – but he never expected it to get the reaction that it did.
‘One night when I was picking up my daughter from school at 9pm, it suddenly hit me: a day only has 24 hours, and she’s spending 14 of them in school – that’s so unreasonable,’ he said.
‘Why does everyone think it’s normal? I figured there must be other parents who think the same way, so I decided to make a video about it.
‘At first, I thought maybe a few people would agree with me and give it a like – but I never expected it to go so viral, and that so many people would share the same thoughts. I honestly didn’t see it coming.’
Now, his goal is to ‘work hard and make enough money’ to hopefully send Cindy to an ‘international school’ so she can ‘study abroad.’
‘She’s also working very hard on improving her English,’ he added.
