Recently, the General Office of the Ministry of Education and other four departments jointly issued the "Notice on Further Standardizing the Work Related to Compulsory Education After-school Services", aiming to further standardize the work of compulsory education after-school services and improve the level and quality of after-school services. It clearly stipulates that schools shall not include lunch break care, evening Xi and other services in the scope of after-school services, and it is strictly forbidden to charge fees in the name of after-school services.
The notice requires that it is strictly forbidden to expand the scope of after-school services, and clearly points out that the services provided by schools for students such as early arrival and self-Xi, lunch and lunch break care, and evening self-Xi shall not be included in the scope of after-school services. At the same time, it is also clearly stipulated that these services shall not be included in the after-school service fee items.
The issuance of this notice is of great significance for standardizing the work of compulsory education after-school services. It further clarifies the scope of after-school services and makes the boundaries of after-school services clearer for schools and parents. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to charge fees in the name of after-school services, which protects the rights and interests of students and parents and avoids unnecessary financial burdens.
However, this provision has caused widespread discussion and controversy in society. Some people believe that services such as lunch break care and evening self-Xi should be included in the scope of after-school services, and that a corresponding fee can be charged to ensure the safety of students and the effectiveness of Xi learning. Others argue that these services should be provided free of charge by schools and should not be charged.
In response to these controversies, the Ministry of Education stressed that schools should not increase the number of fees charged or expand the scope of fees in the name of after-school services, and should not impose or bundle fees against the wishes of students' parents. At the same time, localities and schools should follow regulations to reduce or exempt after-school service fees for students from economically disadvantaged families, to ensure that all students can enjoy equitable educational resources.
To sum up, the regulations of the Ministry of Education make it clear that services such as lunch break care and evening self-Xi shall not be included in the scope of after-school services, and it is strictly forbidden to charge fees in the name of after-school services. This provision aims to protect the rights and interests of students and parents, and to regulate the after-school service work of compulsory education. However, the controversy over this provision continues, and further discussion and study are needed.