Kindergartens warned fee increases must receive approval in advance

The Ministry of Education (MOE) assured the public Thursday that it will look into the unauthorized charging of preschool education fees, as the new semester approaches.

This was in a response to reports that some kindergartens in the country have substantially hiked their fees.

The ministry noted Thursday that all preschools involved are privately-owned, and reiterated that all price increases should be reported to the local education and pricing departments in accordance with the Non-governmental Education Promotion Law and related regulations.

Price adjustments made by public kindergartens also have to receive approval from provincial-level agencies including education and pricing.

A circular, aiming to crack down on the unauthorized collection of kindergarten fees and the high cost of preschool education, was jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the MOE and the Ministry of Finance last year.

The circular stipulates that private-owned preschools can fix their fees within a range written in a contract signed with the local government.

Following the circular last year, most provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions on the mainland set their own regulations governing kindergarten fees, the MOE said.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education also demanded Wednesday all kindergartens report to education officials any increase in their fees.

The best preschool's monthly pricing level in Beijing rose from 230 yuan ($36.20) in 1997 to 750 yuan last year.

According to a survey of 49 public kindergartens by Beijing's pricing officials, each pupil's family is charged an average of 16,500 yuan every year, or 1,382 yuan per month.

Another poll conducted by the Beijing Social Facts and Public Opinion Survey Center shows that over 80 percent of 1,044 preschooler parents and 777 residents surveyed said they can accept a monthly kindergarten charge of more than 800 yuan.