THE Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau has recently released a notice regarding promoting the after-class service, which was previously known as the “4:30 p.m. activity,” in all public and private schools of the nine-year compulsory education.

The subsidy standard will be increased from the current 350 yuan (US$53.34) per student to 1,000 yuan per student, according to the notice that has been publicized for public opinion.

The after-class service, which has been piloted in 320 schools in Shenzhen since 2015, refers to activities organized after daily teaching programs, such as club activities, self-study, Q&A sessions, courses conducted by private education organizations and extracurricular activities.

In order to improve the service and as a way to relieve the burden of picking up children, the authority rolled out the new proposed policy.

The proposed policy requires schools to be responsible for the service. The service time, in principle, should be arranged as two class hours in the afternoon after the completion of daily teaching programs.

Students and parents have the right to decide whether or not to join in the service plan. Schools are not allowed to charge parents in any way.

Schools can independently design activity curriculum, but cannot assign homework to students. Moreover, it is forbidden for schools to use the time to deliver lessons in advance.

School teachers are encouraged to conduct the after-class services.

When bringing in teachers from private education organizations, schools should strictly follow required procedures and ensure that the fees paid to social education organizations do not surpass 50 percent of the total fees used for the after-class service, according to the notice.

(Wang Jingli)