Examination competition that has continued to overheat in China.



While the demand for cram schools is increasing and the market size is expanding, the cost of educating children is becoming a heavy burden for parents.



Under such circumstances, the Chinese government suddenly announced restrictions on cram schools, and ripples are spreading in China.



What is the aim of the Xi Jinping administration?


I will explain it in an easy-to-understand manner.


(Akihito Yanagihara, Guangzhou Branch, Hiroshi Takashima, Guangzhou Branch, Kazuyuki Kenhata, International Affairs Department)

Regulations on cram schools, what do you do?

The Chinese government's regulations on cram schools in July did not allow the establishment of new cram schools for elementary and junior high school students, and called for the conversion of existing cram schools into "non-profit organizations."



In addition, ▼ classes on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are also prohibited.

Why regulate cram schools?

The Chinese government has set up "countermeasures against the declining birthrate."



In China, a population control policy called the "one-child policy" has continued for more than 30 years, but in recent years the birthrate has been declining rapidly and it has become a social problem.

The declining birthrate will lead to a decrease in the labor force and may affect economic growth.



Since the Chinese Communist Party has made economic growth a signboard policy for many years, it is a problem related to the centripetal force of the administration.



Why do parents hesitate to give birth to a second or subsequent child?

One of the reasons is the large cost of education for children.

How much does education cost?

In China, many families focus on education from an early age so that their children can survive the fierce competition for entrance exams.

For example, according to the Shanghai municipal authorities, the average disposable income per capita living in Shanghai is about 1.3 million yen per year.



On the other hand, the average cost of cram schools for elementary and junior high school students is about 280,000 yen per year.



For this reason, by curbing the business of cram schools, we are trying to reduce these household expenditures and reduce the burden of raising children.

Where is the true intention of the Xi Jinping administration?

In fact, it has been pointed out that the cram school regulations this time and the political speculation of President Xi Jinping asking for the long-term administration.



The background is the widening gap between rich and poor, which extends to the field of education.

In urban areas of China, it is said that it costs 30 million yen per child to graduate from university, and the widening gap between families who can receive sufficient education and those who do not has become a social problem.



The issue of this disparity is closely linked to the speculation of President Xi, who will finish his second term as general secretary (party leader) at the Communist Party Congress next fall.

Professor Ichiro Kobuki of Kanda University of International Studies, who is familiar with Chinese politics, said, "In order for President Xi to enter the unusual third term as general secretary, it is necessary to create public opinion. I'm most afraid that it will lead to dissatisfaction with the university, so I think there is an aim to show an attitude of eliminating the disparity by launching a policy such as the regulation of study schools. "

Overseas influence on the education field?

Investment in education has overheated in China, and the market size has temporarily grown to over 10 trillion yen in Japanese yen.

According to Professor Kobuki, many major IT companies that have received investment from overseas are also entering the cram school industry.



Professor Kobuki said, "The Chinese government's idea is that education is directly linked to idealism and ideas. When it comes to cram schools, you don't know what you are teaching where the state is not well managed. The background is the idea that the party wants to put all this under control and control ideas and ideologies. "

How do parents perceive it?

With this regulation, there are some concerns that the cost of education may increase.

When I interviewed a family with twin daughters in sixth grade in southern Guangzhou, I was confused that the cram school is unlikely to be reopened due to this regulation and that I may have to ask for a more expensive tutor. Was there.



Professor Kobuki also points out that this regulation could rather exacerbate the problem of inequality.



"If we don't radically change the system of the fierce examination war, we won't be able to solve the problem. If we say,'If you run out of cram schools, you can hire a tutor.' Will be more advantageous. As a result, the inequality will widen. "

Isn't it difficult for a cram school to be regulated?

In urban areas such as Beijing and Guangzhou, cram schools are all closed.



The major cram school in Hubei province that I interviewed was founded 10 years ago and has grown to have 30,000 students, but with this regulation, elementary and junior high school children and students will be on weekends and summer vacations. Classes were banned and weekday classes were restricted by 9 pm.



It is said that the business situation deteriorated at a stretch, more than half of the 25 classrooms were closed, and teachers had to restructure.

Is there a cram school that does "dark business"?

While business closures are occurring one after another, some cram schools are conducting so-called "black business" that has bypassed regulations.

According to the interview, a 40-year-old man who runs a "dark business" cram school in a certain city originally ran a regular cram school, but confessed that he changed the regulation as an opportunity.



Currently, while moving from one share office to another in a commercial building, classes are also held on weekends and holidays when classes are prohibited.



The man said, "I recognize it as a violation or gray, but there is demand. There are high school and college entrance exams. There is no future unless I enter a good high school in China. This regulation is incomplete." I criticize it.



Professor Kobuki also said, "China has a famous saying,'If there is a policy above, there is a measure below.' This regulation will not solve long-term problems." It shows the view that it will not be.



A series to learn about the "now" of China as the Chinese Communist Party holds the "6 Chuzenkai" to decide important policies.

The fourth time, I will tell you about the feelings of Chinese people toward Japan.