The Hainan Provincial Market Supervision Administration and the Hainan Provincial Department of Education have issued a warning letter on the regulation of education fees and declared eleven “prohibitions” for educational institutions in Hainan, including colleges, universities, secondary vocational schools, primary and secondary schools, and kindergartens.
The aim is to standardize the issuance of education fees and prevent indiscriminate charges. Serious violations of the “prohibitions” will result in fines ranging from 500,000 yuan to 2 million yuan.
The “Notice” provides guidelines for the spring semester this year and includes the following:
Primary and secondary schools are prohibited from forcing or coercing students to purchase tablet/computers or educational apps in the name of information-based teaching or class teaching.
Primary and secondary schools and in-service teachers are prohibited from making up lessons with compensation.
After-school services must not be forced on students against their will.
Primary and secondary schools cannot charge extra fees for educational and teaching activities that are required by the government’s curriculum reform.
Parent committees must be strictly regulated, and primary and secondary schools and kindergartens are prohibited from entrusting parent committees to collect any fees.
Primary and secondary schools and kindergartens not allowed to charge extra fees for services or collect fees on behalf of third-party services without proper authorization.
Primary and secondary schools and kindergartens are prohibited from collecting or indirectly collect fees for temporary enrolment, school selection, “hanging” or retaining student status, or sponsorship fees or donations linked to admissions. (The term “hanging” refers to a practice known as leaving a student’s status hanging. This means that the student is not officially registered at a particular school or program but is still able to attend classes and receive instruction. This practice is sometimes used by schools to evade regulations, such as enrolment caps or qualification requirements.)
Primary and secondary schools are prohibited from forcing or implying that students and parents purchase designated teaching aids, software or materials.
Schools of all levels and types are prohibited from collecting tuition fees and accommodation fees in advance across academic years (semesters).
Non-profit private schools and non-profit Sino-foreign cooperative schools are not allowed to make money from tuition or school income, distribute leftover school funds, or transfer school income through related transactions.
Non-state ordinary primary and secondary schools and kindergartens are prohibited from raising fees without fulfilling the fee reporting or filing procedures.
If the above behaviour is found, the market supervision department may impose a fine of up to five times the illegal gains. If there are no illegal gains, a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 yuan will be imposed, and if the circumstances are serious, a fine of 500,000 to 2 million yuan will be imposed.
The Hainan Provincial Market Supervision Administration and the Hainan Provincial Department of Education require all schools to follow the above requirements, conduct self-examination and self-correction, and standardize the conduct of education fees.
They will strengthen the supervision and inspection of education fees at all levels, investigate and deal with illegal acts, and publicly expose them through the media.
The public is encouraged to actively supervise and report any violations to the education department or hotline numbers.
Related article: CDC Raises Awareness on Prevention and Symptoms of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
