Two high school students in Yichun city of Jiangxi province fought a gang that attacked passengers with daggers on a bus on May 31. Though they saved the passengers from harm, the serious injuries they sustained prevented them from taking the college entrance examination, or gaokao, this year.

The Ministry of Education, recognizing their deed, has announced that it will make special arrangements for the two students to take the gaokao after they recuperate. This seems like a good solution to their predicament, which acknowledges their bravery and sets a good example of social fairness.

Some people have even said that the two students should be admitted to colleges without taking the gaokao as a reward for their self-less bravery, which has raised a controversy. After all, the gaokao is a standardized exam for selecting students for admission to universities on the basis of their academic performances. There is no doubt that the students should be lauded for their deed, but that should not mean that we should sacrifice the fairness of the gaokao.

If the two students are admitted to colleges without taking the gaokao, it may send the wrong signal to students across the country. For instance, some students may try to follow their example to avoid taking the highly competitive entrance examination to enroll in a college.

It's important to encourage and reward students for their bravery, but no society can function without following moral norms.