China’s mobile app ban slapped for preschoolers
China has banned new education mobile apps for preschoolers and has given a nod to remove existing ones as it continues a crackdown on tutoring in the country.
In a regressive move, education authorities in Beijing banned new educational apps for preschoolers and nodded to take down existing ones as they continue a crackdown on private lessons in the country.
Mobile apps that target preschoolers have been specifically banned in line with the latest decree issued by Chinese authorities to reduce children’s screen time and smartphone addiction which is becoming a social problem in China, media reported. local.
Additionally, tutoring apps targeting all ages must not provide “negative or unwanted information,” “or contain game links or advertisements,” according to a regulation co-enacted by city governments on Monday. education, cyberspace and communications. The draft rule was published in February.
In July last year, Chinese authorities announced an outright ban on for-profit tutoring services for core school subjects in a bid to improve the quality of education and increase the rate of declining birth rate in the country. Chinese authorities have banned tutoring, dealing a massive blow to the tutoring industry worth $120 billion. On July 24, Chinese regulators released reforms that will fundamentally change the business model for private companies teaching the school curriculum. Beijing hopes to overhaul the sector which it says has been taken over by capitalism.
The move has caused New York-listed Chinese tutoring company New Oriental Education & Technology Group to cut its workforce by 60,000 and its shares to fall 75% since late July, news outlet Asia Financial said.
It was one of the most dramatic decisions to take place in a year, with many regulatory crackdowns across a wide range of industries.
Tencent-backed VIPKid, which claims to have 80,000 teachers in North America, now advertises adult English learning services on its website.
Since Chinese authorities banned tutoring, industries are dealing a massive blow to the $120 billion tutoring industry.
Private education companies have been barred from launching an initial public offering (IPO) or hiring foreign teachers based outside of China, Asia Financial reported.
