"Four Great Tutors" emerge outside schools, education authorities crack down

Compiled from: Ministry of Education, Xin'an Evening News, Anhui Net, Dawan News
 
On the morning of July 27, based on valid clues provided by parents and the Xin'an Evening News, Anhui News, and Dawan News, the Huangshan Education Bureau organized personnel to conduct a surprise operation. At a villa in a luxury villa area in Tunxi District, they investigated teacher Lü, who works at Tunxi No.1 Middle School, for suspected paid tutoring.

 
 

Case review
Recently, several parents in Huangshan reported to the media that some teachers were conducting tutoring in villas. After continuous stakeouts and interviews with informed individuals, reporters found that teacher Lü from Tunxi No.1 Middle School was indeed suspected of tutoring in a villa.
 
Reporters observed that almost every day, students carrying stationery bags entered Lü's villa at roughly the same time. After about two hours inside, the students would come out together in groups. The number of students varied daily but was consistently large. Sometimes, tutoring sessions were held both in the morning and afternoon, with a constant flow of people, creating a lively scene.
 
After receiving the report, the Huangshan Education Bureau took it seriously and immediately dispatched specialized personnel for an on-site investigation. Currently, the education department is conducting an in-depth investigation into Lü's paid tutoring during the holidays and will handle the matter strictly in accordance with laws and regulations based on the findings.
 
A representative from the Huangshan Education Bureau stated that the bureau has a "zero-tolerance" policy toward paid tutoring by teachers and has investigated multiple such cases in the past two years. If parents, students, or members of the public discover teachers engaging in paid tutoring, they are encouraged to provide specific information such as the teacher's name and tutoring location, and the education department will resolutely investigate.
 
 
Relevant regulations
The "Code of Ethics for Primary and Secondary School Teachers"  Article 5
Set an example for others. Uphold noble sentiments, know honor and disgrace, be strict with oneself, and lead by example. Dress appropriately, use standard language, and behave with civility. Care for the collective, cooperate harmoniously, respect colleagues, and respect parents. Be upright in conduct, honest and impartial. Voluntarily resist paid tutoring, and do not use one's position for personal gain.
 
Measures for Handling Violations of Professional Ethics by Primary and Secondary School Teachers (Revised in 2018) Article 4
Article 4: The following violations of professional ethics by teachers shall be subject to handling:
(4) Violating teaching discipline, being perfunctory in teaching, or engaging in part-time or concurrent work that affects the performance of educational and teaching duties.

 
 

 
[1] The author's perspective
For a long time, there have been a few teachers across China who offer tutoring outside school, often to students from their own school and grade. Some teachers are quite famous, even dubbed the "Four Great Tutors." Tutoring methods vary; some teachers use online software, while others teach at home or in external classrooms. Undoubtedly, such off-campus tutoring is always charged extra, and the fees are not low. According to parent reports, some lessons cost as little as one or two hundred yuan per session, while others can be as expensive as over a thousand yuan. However, seeing other children being tutored, parents feel their own children will fall behind if they don't participate. In truth, parents have their own grievances—they watch their children suffer and face increased family burdens, but they can only pay up while complaining inwardly, saying, "It's all for the children."
 
Based on China's current legislative situation, there is no law prohibiting teachers from paid off-campus tutoring, only some relevant regulations to restrict such behavior. The author believes that legislation on this matter is imperative for two reasons. First, paid tutoring primarily aims at charging fees, which adds an element of power and monetary exchange to the teacher-student relationship, undermining teacher authority, lowering the social prestige of the teaching profession, and hindering the effective functioning of education. Second, paid tutoring mainly involves teachers of exam-related subjects, causing income inequality and even polarization among teachers, severely affecting their work enthusiasm, exacerbating the imbalance in school education, and impeding the implementation of quality education.