Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

AUTHORITIES in Shenzhen issued a work plan on the management of after-school training institutions Monday to ensure an evident ease of excessive academic burden on students, family spending on education and parents’ pressure within a year and remarkable success in two years.

The work plan was unveiled months after the Central authorities introduced a set of guidelines to ease the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students undergoing compulsory education.

According to the plan, off-campus training institutions include organizations offering curriculum subject tutoring services and art, sports, science and technology trainings for K-12 students.

Specifically, Shenzhen will no longer approve establishment of new off-campus training institutions targeting preschool education or organizations providing tutoring services on K-12 curriculum subjects to reduce the number of these organizations in the city.

According to the plan, strict examination will be undertaken for the establishment of non-subject tutoring organizations.

All existing subject tutoring organizations are required to be registered as nonprofit organizations and delivering any online training for preschoolers is prohibited.

No online and offline curriculum subject tutoring services for students undergoing compulsory education should be organized during national holidays, weekends, or summer and winter vacations and it should not pose conflict with school teaching times, as per the work plan.

Offline tutoring should end before 8:30 p.m. and online training no later than 9 p.m.

Each online lesson should last no more than 30 minutes with at least 10-minute intervals between each class to protect students’ eyesight.

Campaigns will be launched to investigate irregularities such as organizations operating teaching activities without holding legal licenses or teaching students ahead of school curriculum schedule. Other inspections include checking fire equipment installation, tuition payment, course package pricing and advertising.

It is noted in the plan that organizations are banned from charging course packages covering over three months or single subject packages that include more than 60 classes to prevent prepayment-related risks.

Organizations also should not use any false and misleading promotional methods.

Listed companies are banned from investing in after-school tutoring organizations via the stock market or asset purchase.

Working teams at both municipal and district levels will be established to monitor, inspect and regulate off-campus tutoring organizations.

The campaign is scheduled to last one year through September next year, education officials said.