PARENTS are unsatisfied with a recent notice about an extra 300-yuan (US$42) charge for lunch break management for children staying on campus during the lunch break at Shenzhen Longgang Aiwen School. Longgang District Education Bureau responded by saying it has halted the school’s charge, according to Southcn.com.

Children at Shenzhen Longgang Aiwen School, a privately owned school, can only sleep on their desks during the lunch break because of the limited space at the school. Therefore, when parents recently received a notice about a 300-yuan charge for the lunchtime break management, they became unsatisfied.

The teacher in charge explained that administrative teachers take turns looking after the students during the lunch break. The charging standard is three yuan per day, equalling 300 yuan for a 100-day semester. The teacher said children can choose whether to stay in or outside school during the lunch break, adding that if students have lunch at school, they have to pay the management fee.

Aiwen School said that it plans to increase an optional lunchtime break management fee for providing beds in music and dance rooms. The plan is still in the process of collecting public opinions. Liu Dece, principal of the Aiwen School, told the media that after receiving the parents’ feedback, the school suspended the charge.

Longgang District Bureau responded by saying that private schools, including primary and secondary schools, can charge a lunch break management fee only when the school provides beds for students and the service is voluntary, according to the relevant documents published by the province and the city.  (Chen Siqi)