China Mulls Ban on Private Schools With First Through Ninth Grades

(Beijing) – Chinese lawmakers are considering a ban on for-profit private schools that have classes for first- through ninth-graders — a move that could affect 12 million students and deal a heavy blow to the country’s booming private-education sector.

The latest draft revision to a 2002 education act — the Law on the Promotion of Non-Public Schools — that is being debated by the country’s top legislature this week includes a proposal to limit private schools to kindergartens, grades 10 through 12 and university courses, several sources with knowledge of the matter said. About 10,700 schools would be affected if the amendment is passed, according to the Ministry of Education.