China moves to discipline ‘crazy tutoring scene’

Some parents back move to rein in industry saying costs are ‘unreasonable’ but experts are sceptical new rules will address educational inequality.

Shanghai, China – China is stepping up measures to clamp down on the country’s booming private tutoring industry in an attempt to reduce the academic pressure on students and help address its worsening demographic crisis. The industry has been under pressure since March this year when President Xi Jinping labelled after-school tuition a “social problem” and the Ministry of Education laid out plans to lighten the load on children and teenagers, urging parents not to send their children for private tutoring and telling teachers to avoid giving their pupils homework. For many parents, the moves come as a relief.