Anyone who graduated from high school in Germany had it for sure: a more or less funny graduation motto. That has been part of it for a long time when you leave school in this country with the highest possible degree, as well as a corresponding party, often a printed T-shirt or a “graduation prank”. Graduation, on the other hand, is usually much more formal.
In China, too, the successful completion of your studies is an event that is actually celebrated in a very traditional way. The graduates take part in large ceremonies in traditional capes and caps, classic portrait photos in graduate robes are also often part of it. But this year something is different. In the Chinese social networks, one repeatedly comes across photos of students in their festive outfits lying lifeless on the floor, leaning against walls or holding out in other unnatural poses. What’s going on there?
“More dead than alive” is the name of this quirky new photo trend, roughly translated. However, this is not just a joking action, but expresses two problems that are currently burdening young people in China. First of all, they have now fought their way successfully through many years of the notorious Chinese education system, in which the demands are high and the pressure is great. They are well trained, disciplined, ambitious – but, and this is the second point, they cannot find any suitable jobs. The unemployment rate among young people in China is at its highest level in a long time.
In summary, the graduates have completed a tough apprenticeship including a final exam – and are now wondering what that was actually good for. The causes of this problem are, among other things, the strict corona measures, which applied in China much longer than in other parts of the world. In addition, political measures aimed at tightening regulation of private companies put a damper on the Chinese economy. The technology sector in particular, which attracts many young job seekers, has suffered.
Sources: CNN, “Yahoo News”
