Cutting English classes to boost cram schools

(ECNS) -- A new policy to ban primary schools from offering English courses to pupils in first and second grade in Beijing will boost language training schools in the capital city, according to a report in National Business Daily on Friday.

The Beijing Commission of Education decided on Tuesday that primary school students in the capital will not learn English until the third grade. The decision will take effect in next year's fall semester. Currently, English classes begin in the first grade.

The move to cut English courses will add to the burden of students and especially their parents, since no parents want their kids to fall behind in their English, and some parents would turn to English training programs at cram schools, according to Xiong Bingqi, vice-director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute.

"Chinese parents have long been aware of the importance of learning English, and if their children can't get access to English training at school, they will surely turn to out-of-school training institutes," said Li Ying, an analyst at Sohu education channel.

China now is home to over 50,000 English training schools, with a total market value of 30 billion yuan ($4.9 billion). Over 70 percent of training programs provided by the schools are aimed at children.