Dateline: May 23

This week on SBS, Dateline investigates why the Chinese government banned the after-school tutoring industry and how families are finding new ways to give their kids a head start.

In July 2021, the Chinese government banned after-school private tutoring for primary and middle school students in a bid to reduce the academic burden and promote social equality.

Known as the double reduction policy, it forced curriculum tutoring companies to register as non-profits and put a limit on the amount of homework that could be given out by teachers.

However, with China’s hyper-competitive educational system, parents are still desperate to give their kids the best chance at succeeding in life. So the ban has effectively pushed the industry underground as parents pay high fees for private sessions.

It has also forced education companies to look for alternative income streams, which has included turning to the international online education market.

9:30pm Tuesday on SBS.