Court sends Beijing bullies on training course

Fourteen girls involved in bullying have agreed to take part in a five-day training course in Beijing in order to return to school.

The course, organized by Tongzhou District People's Court, aims to show students who have received criminal or administrative punishment for bullying the severity of their actions and help change their behavior.

The girls are all age 15 to 17 and include one who was given a suspended prison sentence of a year and 10 months. The court did not release further details to protect the minors' privacy.

"All of them attended military training on Monday, and they will take part in other activities during the week, such as listening to lectures and receiving psychological support," said Wei Dan, a judge from the court. The course runs until Friday.

"All activities are conducted under the supervision of the students' schools and their parents," she said. "We hope they can learn how to communicate with others and realize the impropriety of their earlier behavior."

Wei said attendance was voluntarily, and that teachers would review the students' performances during the week before the girls were allowed to return to school.