A university in north-eastern China debunked claims that it had forced students to carry bricks on its main square in exchange for "moral conduct" points, reported the South China Morning Post.

据《南华早报》报道，近日，中国东北辽宁省的一所大学否认校方曾强制学生学生到广场搬砖，给搬砖学生加“操行分”这一行为。

The Hong Kong daily quoted the news website of state media People’s Daily, saying that students at the Liaoning University of International Business and Economics had posted photos online of themselves working in the square which was covered with bricks, calling themselves cheap labourers.

日前，香港日报对官方媒体《中国日报》新闻网站上的一则新闻进行报道，声称辽宁对外经贸学院的学生在网上发布了关于自己在广场上义务搬砖的照片，这些学生认为学校让自己沦为了廉价劳动力。

The students said that they would earn extra points for "moral conduct" evaluation if they took part, or have points deducted if they refused, the online post said.

据网上某些帖子描述道，学生们表示，学校强制学生搬砖，并给板砖同学加“操行分”。反之，学校将倒扣“操行分”。

A senior official from the Liao- ning University of International Business and Economics clarified that it was a voluntary exercise aimed at inculcating students’ passion for their school.

后来，辽宁对外经贸学院的一位资深领导接受采访并表示，该项活动是学校开展的义务劳动，目的是为激发学生们的爱校热情。

The square had been built for more than 10 years, and repair works are being carried out to improve the environment, said the official.

该领导表示，学校的这片广场建成已有十年之久。学校的初衷是为进一步美化校园环境，改善学生学习生活条件，才开展相关修葺工作。

The university president, some key faculty and staff and a number of students worked together to prise bricks from the ground last Friday as part of repairs.

从上周五开始，该校校长带队，组织学院党团干部、全体辅导员以及部分学生在学校广场开展义务劳动，把需要更换的地砖掀起，以方便施工更顺利进行。

The bricks were later hauled away by machines, he said.

随后，这些地砖将会被施工机械铲起运走。

The purpose of the activity was to involve both staff and students in the building of the school, so as to generate passion for the school.

校方表示学校开展该项活动的目的在于令广大师生都参与到建设学校的活动中来，进而激发自己的爱校情怀。

"The rumour of forcing students to carry bricks and giving students additional ’moral conduct’ points for doing so is untrue," the official said.

该领导还提出关于校方强制学生搬砖并给相关学生加 “操行分”的说法并不属实。