Unlicensed after-school tutoring services in China could face fines of up to 100,000 yuan (nearly 14,000 USD) and other penalties, according to a document published on the website of China's Ministry of Education on September 12.
“We need to improve the legal framework for after-school tutoring and clarify enforcement responsibilities to ensure that off-campus training meets standards, holds those who do wrong accountable, and protects those who comply,” the document said.
This is the latest measure China has taken to reform its education sector. In 2021, Beijing imposed tough regulations to control the $120 billion private tutoring industry to ease pressure on students and the financial burden on households.
These regulations have caused businesses to close on a large scale, causing many people to lose their jobs.
However, by the end of July 2023, more than 100,000 companies had been licensed under the revised policy, after reducing tuition fees and meeting government requirements on qualifications, capital, staff and teaching content.
Still, problems such as unlicensed tutoring persist to varying degrees, and there are also cases of private institutions taking the money and running away, the Ministry of Education said.
China will begin banning most after-school classes for students from kindergarten to 12th grade in mid-2021 to ease pressure on students and the financial burden on households. Photo: Bloomberg
According to China's Ministry of Education, the new regulations set out general requirements for administrative punishment for illegal tutoring activities outside school grounds carried out by any individual or organization for kindergarten children over 3 years old, primary and secondary school students.
Authorities will be able to impose administrative penalties on offline and online tutoring activities outside school premises.
Administrative penalties include warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal income, revocation of licenses, and restrictions on practice. The maximum fine is 100,000 yuan.
Some violations will be punished more severely, such as repeated tutoring outside of school within 2 years of being punished, or teachers in primary or secondary schools tutoring outside of school.
Tutoring service providers will also be fined and warned if they attempt to disguise their services or evade regulatory oversight, such as charging through online platforms, offering streaming courses, organising tutoring in cafes, hotels and private homes or under the guise of family services or study tours.
Tutoring facilities outside of schools will also be subject to administrative penalties if they organize illegal competitions for preschool children, primary and secondary school students .
Nguyen Tuyet (According to Reuters, SCMP, ECNS)
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