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School’s out? Tuition curbs pile on the anxiety for China’s parents

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3 years ago

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In Beijing’s exclusive Haidian district, Zhao says she ploughs $10,000 a year into extra classes for her eight-year-old, a leg up in the competitive scramble of modern China — and an advantage the state now wants to restrict.

As they scythe down oversized businesses, Chinese authorities say the vast tutoring sector has to turn non-profit, effectively wiping out the business models of education companies that have spun billions from the anxieties of China’s parents.But last weekend’s edict by the State Council has drawn scepticism from Haidian’s parents, who are normally sure-footed as they plot their child’s path to university.

“Without extra classes, it might become difficult to keep up,” lamented Zhao, a 42-year-old mother giving only her surname, of the prospects of her child who is taking extra classes in Chinese, English and mathematics.

The move to non-profit status — and a ban on teaching core subjects on weekends and during holidays — aims to ease pressure on pupils and curb high education costs, authorities said.

But parents say those fine aims do not change the wider environment facing their children.

“It still involves ‘involution’,” she added, invoking a tag used to describe the race to outcompete that ends up nowhere.

For China’s middle-class kids, that race starts as early as kindergarten — which must be bilingual for those who can afford it.

Analysts offer a partial explanation of the government’s motivations for taking on tutoring, a move that saw the share prices of listed education behemoths tank while their billionaire founders shed fortunes almost overnight.

In theory, taking some air out of the sector could ease burdens on a daunting part of child-raising: the huge cost of education.

Many young Chinese cite education costs as a reason they are unwilling to have children.

But for parents in competitive cities, the idea of failing to provide the best is a non-starter.

“I don’t think it’ll be particularly effective… you can’t stop one-to-one classes,” said freelancer Jin Song, 45, who has a daughter starting middle school.

“Those who have a little more money will find a way.”

‘Chicken babies’

During a recent evening in Haidian — home to China’s elite Tsinghua University — teenagers shuffled to private classes over their summer break.

The pressure for both pupils and parents spikes further during “gaokao”, the notorious entrance examination for Chinese universities.

A parent surnamed Li, 45, told AFP his family moved a few kilometres within Haidian when his daughter entered junior high, renting a flat near the school so she could spend less time commuting.

Such is the state of competition that students juggling packed schedules have their own nickname — “chicken babies” — an expression that suggests stimulation into a hyperactive state after being “injected with chicken’s blood”.

But there is growing recognition that the costs of competition are preventing couples from having more kids — and thereby contributing to a demographic crisis.

Over 90 percent of 4,000 parents surveyed sent their children to extracurricular classes and half spent more than 10,000 yuan ($1,540) on lessons, according to a state-backed newspaper.

President Xi Jinping dubbed disorder in the tutoring industry “a stubborn malady” in March, vowing to solve the problem.

The axe fell months later.

“Policymakers have concluded that tutoring companies are a greater danger to social well-being than they are a contributor to economic growth,” said Ether Yin, a partner at consultancy Trivium China.

With companies feeding off parents’ anxiety while ramping up pressure on children to drive business, the social trade-off has become “unacceptable” to Beijing, he added.

While the logic is rooted in reality, Hinrich Foundation research fellow Alex Capri believes the latest actions also fit the Communist Party’s reflexes to impose its will across all walks of life.

“The for-profit education sector is seen as a launchpad for students looking to gain admission to prestigious overseas universities,” Capri said.

This “often promotes views which are at odds with the (Chinese Communist Party)”.

It is likely that by providing state-sponsored supplemental learning services, “the party will achieve greater control of education content,” he added.

The reforms also forbid providing overseas education courses.

Going underground?

The father surnamed Li, a software developer, said parents might source private tutors as teaching goes underground.

“If the gaokao remains based on points, I’d hope my child can raise their scores with added training,” he added.

For now, private educators continue operating while digesting the consequences of the overhaul to the once cash-cow sector.

A person with knowledge of the matter said education brand Xueersi, under the New York-listed TAL Education Group, is letting go of some teaching and sales staff.

While summer classes are ongoing, staff are uncertain if autumn or winter semesters will continue as planned.

“Public listed companies will have to drastically pivot their current business model,” said Dave Wang of Nuvest Capital.

“Profitability will be extremely unpredictable and uncertain.”

– AFP

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China

Tragic stabbing of Japanese boy in Shenzhen sparks concerns over Sino-Japanese relations

A 10-year-old Japanese boy died after being stabbed in Shenzhen on 18 September, raising fears about strained Sino-Japanese relations. The attacker, a 44-year-old man, was apprehended. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the act, urging Beijing for swift information. This incident follows previous attacks on Japanese nationals, heightening concerns for their safety in China.

Published

2 weeks ago

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20 September 2024

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CHINA: A 10-year-old boy, a dual citizen of Japan and China, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed while on his way to school in Shenzhen on Wednesday (18 September) morning.

The incident has raised alarms within the Japanese community in China and could further strain already tense Sino-Japanese relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the boy was attacked in the abdomen near a Japanese school and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite efforts to save him, he died of his wounds early Thursday.

The assailant, a 44-year-old man, was arrested by police near the scene.

The motivations behind the attack remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether the boy was specifically targeted due to his nationality.

A local Japanese businessman expressed concerns for the safety of the community, advising vigilance and caution when speaking Japanese in public spaces.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the stabbing as an “extremely despicable crime” and called for prompt information sharing from Beijing regarding the investigation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, represented by spokesman Lin Jian, expressed condolences and emphasized the commitment to protecting foreign nationals in China.

Lin noted that such incidents could occur in any country and downplayed the potential impact on bilateral exchanges.

Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic scene, with the boy receiving immediate medical attention from passersby.

His mother was present during the attack.

This incident follows a similar knife attack in Suzhou in June, which left a Japanese mother and child injured.

In response to both attacks, Japanese officials have reiterated their demand for enhanced safety measures for their nationals in China.

Wednesday also marked the 93rd anniversary of a significant historical event—Japan’s bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which contributed to the Manchurian Incident and subsequent occupation of northeastern China during World War II.

In light of this, Japan had previously requested the Chinese government to bolster security at Japanese schools.

In mourning, Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, ordered the national flag at the embassy to be flown at half-staff and planned to visit Shenzhen to meet the victim’s family.

The Japanese consulate in Guangzhou reported that local government officials had also extended their condolences.

Community responses in Shenzhen reflected a mix of shock and sorrow, with residents leaving flowers at the entrance of the Japanese school.

One local expressed shame over the incident as a Chinese national, while another voiced concern over the implications for Sino-Japanese relations.

As diplomatic tensions have already been heightened by issues such as espionage allegations against Japanese nationals and trade disputes, including a ban on Japanese seafood following the Fukushima disaster, this tragic event may exacerbate existing challenges.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has urged both governments to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and seek clarity on the incident.

The investigation into the stabbing continues, with officials pledging to hold the perpetrator accountable under Chinese law.

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Animals

Panda knocks down zookeeper in Chongqing zoo, both unharmed

A panda named Ding Ding knocked down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo on 19 September, sparking concern after a video surfaced online. Both the caretaker and the panda were unharmed, and the zoo has continued normal operations.

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2 weeks ago

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20 September 2024

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CHINA: On Thursday (19 September), a social media user shared a video showing a giant panda named Ding Ding (丁丁) knocking down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo.

In response to inquiries, zoo staff confirmed that both the zookeeper and the 9-year-old panda were unharmed and that Ding Ding continues to be exhibited as usual.

The video, circulated on Chinese social media platform Weibo, shows a zookeeper noticing that Ding Ding was attempting to escape through a partially open gate. The zookeeper rushed to close the gate, which produced a loud noise.

However, the gate wasn’t fully secured, and Ding Ding can be seen trying to open it again.

Visitors alerted the zookeeper, who rushed back to shut the gate.

This action seemingly agitated the panda, who then turned its attention toward the zookeeper.

During a brief chase, Ding Ding knocked down the zookeeper.

In the footage, some visitors can be heard advising others to stay calm and avoid shouting.

This is not the first such incident at the zoo.

In April 2024, another panda knocked over another zookeeper.

The zoo’s management reported that on 23 April, at around 2:00 PM, a zookeeper was guiding two pandas, Yu Ke (渝可) and Yu Ai (渝爱), to a feeding area when they chased and knocked the zookeeper down.

Fortunately, neither the zookeeper nor the pandas were injured.

Following that event, the zoo held a safety meeting and implemented stricter feeding protocols to prevent similar incidents.

Chongqing Zoo is home to 23 giant pandas.

According to Chongqing Daily, the panda enclosure, which has undergone three rounds of expansion and renovation, now covers nearly 20,000 square meters and is one of the earliest panda breeding centers in China.

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