SOME public schools in the city have started providing free after-school services for students after the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau officially issued a relevant circular Monday.

The after-school services begin at 4:15 p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. at Shenzhen Haibin Experimental Primary School in Nanshan District, Shenzhen Evening News reported.

“We discussed the time with parents. Most parents get off work at 5:20 p.m.,” said Xiong Fenglin, the head of the course development center of the school.

Haibin Experimental Primary School organized three types of after-school activities, specifically club activities, self-study and self-reading.

The proportions of students attending each segment are 50 percent, 25 percent and 25 percent, respectively. The school has also added 27 new clubs making a total of 94.

Over 83 percent of students at the school have participated in after-school services, according to Xiong.

At present, 40 clubs hold activities everyday after school. Clubs provide musical instrument, dancing, sports and painting lessons.

Xiong hoped that the after-school services are not just a convenience for parents but also a chance for students to learn arts and sports so as to improve their comprehensive capabilities.

At the Affiliated School of Luohu Education Institute, over 98 percent of students have attended the school’s after-school activities, said the report.

Students were seen doing rock climbing in the playground and discussing with teachers on how to make a virtual cat jump in a software program.

Li Sun, the principal of the Affiliated School of Luohu Education Institute, said that they began prepping work on after-school services during this winter holiday.

The school holds two sessions for primary students, with one from 4:10 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. while the other from 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.

The after-school services time for junior high students in the school is from 5 p.m. to 5:40 p.m., according to Li.

Many parents suggested that the after-school services provide a big convenience. Before this, they had to send kids to attend other institutes after they finished daily teaching programs at schools.

“Letting kids study at school makes me rest assured,” said a parent named Wang Chun.

(Wang Jingli)