Principal at Shanxi school sees a future of greater tolerance, understanding

A school for children infected with HIV in North China has been given permission to hold the national college entrance examination in its classrooms to prevent potential disruption for other students taking the test.

Sixteen of the 36 students enrolled at Linfen Red Ribbon School in Shanxi province will take the exam, known as the gaokao, on June 7 and 8.

The school, which opened in 2004, offers 12 years of elementary education to children who were infected with HIV — usually in their mothers’ wombs or through breastfeeding. It will be the first time any of its students have taken the exam.

The Shanxi Education Commission gave permission for the independent testing site shortly after the school held a commencement ceremony for its first high school graduates.

“I take that as a goodwill stance by the authorities,” said principal Guo Xiaoping. “We have to face the reality that discrimination is still rife against people living with HIV and AIDS.”

of HIV-positive women will pass on the virus to their children without intervention.

He said his students are allowed to take the exam at the regular examination site, which is 20 kilometers from the school, but that taking it in a familiar environment would help their performance.

Hu Zetao, 18, who is among the students who will take the exam, appeared in a public service announcement with China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, to fight AIDS discrimination in