Online education is becoming a common model of teaching in China as education institutions ranging from primary schools to universities remained physically closed since January in order to contain the spread of the Covid-19
However, it has also brought dishonest behaviors such as class skipping and exam cheating to a new level, as a vibrant industry of professionals-for-hire is gaining popularity in China.
“Cheating online during the Covid-19” has become somewhat of a top trending keywords in Chinese search engine Baidu. A search on Baidu for “paying professional to take online exams” can return multiple platforms for potential customers to choose from. “Test-taking services”, “paper-writing”, “take Online courses for you,” one advertisement from a platform called “Dabai” seen by PingWest, claimed.