Parents question school's educational trip to Las Vegas

Parents of students at a renowned primary school in Haidian district have expressed astonishment that their children are to be taken to gambling mecca Las Vegas during a 10-day study tour in the US.

A woman, surnamed Yi, whose child attends Zhongguancun Third Primary School, told the Beijing Evening News Thursday that teachers said Las Vegas was a stop on the trip.

"When we asked why primary school students will go to Las Vegas, a teacher explained that the casinos also have some programs for young students," she told the paper.

The tour costs nearly 30,000 yuan ($4,762) per student, not including flights and visa fees.

"I'm wondering if this trip is for the teachers or our children," she said.

The school could not be reached for comment.

Recently a report was posted by a microblogger alleging that unsupervised students from a Beijing primary school were seen eating McDonald's food outside a New York shopping mall this month, while their teachers were inside shopping.

The post triggered heated discussion about overseas study tours, which have become popular in recent years.

A service specialist from Education First (EF), a private education group, told the Global Times that a trip to the US or Europe for three weeks normally costs 40,000 yuan.

"All the groups we will send overseas during the summer are fully booked," she said.

However, some parents oppose such high-cost programs.

"I won't let my son attend this kind of tour. I don't know what benefits the tour can bring to my son in such a short time and at such a high cost," said a woman surnamed Tan, whose son is a high school student.

An official, surnamed Yu, from Beijing Education Commission said they have no right to regulate overseas study tours.

"Those programs are normally jointly organized by the school and a tourism company. We have no right to regulate tourism companies," she said.