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Chinese education authorities are about to relieve parents of school-aged children a bit. A proposal released last week by the Ministry of Education of China's Zhejiang Province in eastern China, said teachers should be banned from using WeChat, QQ or other mobile apps to assign homework or ask the parents to write down the students' homework.
With the rise of the mobile internet in China, phones have become an extension of everyday activities, including school practices. Rather than announcing classroom assignments or giving in-person notices to students, teachers now unload homework into WeChat groups designed to interact with parents. Many teachers want to exercise their power through these digital channels, asking parents to help students solve their problems and even note their homework.
The call for regional action follows a set of national guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education in October, which compel teachers and schools to assume more responsibilities rather than shift the burden on the parents. "Teachers should be responsible for their work, treat them seriously, correct homework carefully and help students with caution."
Not all schools abuse digital platforms to such an extent. A Shenzhen-based parent told TechCrunch that his sophomore attending a local public school still does a lot of homework in written form and that parental involvement is moderate.
"Different schools treat technology differently and I'm not opposed to using it. For example, it is useful to use a digital device to learn English because much of the process involves audios and videos, "said the parent. "I think sometimes the media paint teachers and schools in such a negative light, just to get attention."
Other recommendations in the national opinion include limiting the amount of homework online to reduce myopia, which has become a concern for parents and society in general.
The new guidelines also come as Beijing tries to contain what has been done and how private technology services are infiltrating students' lives. As part of a major initiative, the government has ordered video game publishers to limit children's playing time, causing the actions of industry leaders Tencent and NetEase to fall. More recently, the Ministry of Education has asked schools and universities to check the applications used by teachers and students on campus, in accordance with guidelines set by the regulator.
Despite the government's intention to reduce stress and disconnect devices for students, educational apps have flourished in China. Those who help students outperform their peers have been particularly successful. Yuanfudao, a start-up offering live courses, exam preparation and homework help, realized a valuation of $ 3 billion in its last $ 300 million fundraising in December. Its rivals Zuoyebang and Yiqi Zuoye have also attracted major investors and funds to help young users get ahead.
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