China's sudden crackdown on private tutoring last year was unexpected and has made many schools close their doors. Parents say these closures are forcing some students to take illegal lessons.
The crackdown was ostensibly aimed at curbing the country’s burgeoning private tutoring industry, which had been growing rapidly in recent years. But the suddenness of the policy change and the lack of guidance from authorities left many parents and businesses scrambling.“It was a real shock,” said one mother, who asked to be identified only by her surname, Wang. “I had no idea what to do with my child after his classes were canceled.”
Wang said she eventually found a new tutor for her son, but the experience was stressful and costly. She had to pay a higher hourly rate for the new tutor, and she had to drive her son to and from lessons because the new tutor did not live nearby.
The crackdown has also forced many tutors to go underground, operating out of their homes or meeting students in public places like parks or coffee shops. This has made it harder for parents to find qualified tutors and has driven up prices.
“It’s really not an ideal situation for anyone involved,” said one parent, who asked to be identified only by her surname, Liu. “But what can you do? The government has made it clear that they are not going to tolerate private tutoring, so we have to find ways to work around it.”
The crackdown was ostensibly aimed at curbing the country’s burgeoning private tutoring industry, which had been growing rapidly in recent years. But the suddenness of the policy change and the lack of guidance from authorities left many parents and businesses scrambling.“It was a real shock,” said one mother, who asked to be identified only by her surname, Wang. “I had no idea what to do with my child after his classes were canceled.”
Wang said she eventually found a new tutor for her son, but the experience was stressful and costly. She had to pay a higher hourly rate for the new tutor, and she had to drive her son to and from lessons because the new tutor did not live nearby.
The crackdown has also forced many tutors to go underground, operating out of their homes or meeting students in public places like parks or coffee shops. This has made it harder for parents to find qualified tutors and has driven up prices.
“It’s really not an ideal situation for anyone involved,” said one parent, who asked to be identified only by her surname, Liu. “But what can you do? The government has made it clear that they are not going to tolerate private tutoring, so we have to find ways to work around it.”