CHINA has warned flourishing private schools not to seek to nurture a new aristocracy, saying they must uphold socialist ideals.
The Minister of the State Education Commission, Zhu Kaixuan, said: ''We must clearly point out that fostering 'aristocrats' runs counter to the education policy of our country.
''It is not conducive to the healthy development of the youth. We do not agree to it.'' Mr Zhu wrote in an article carried in yesterday's People's Daily that China would not approve schools set up to promote ''aristocratic education''.
More than 20,000 private schools have been set up over the past few years since the Government relaxed its control on private education.
Faced with a shortage of funds, Mr Zhu conceded that the private sector could share the state's financial burden in funding education and improving the quality of education.
On the other hand, the burgeoning market economy had given rise to a new entrepreneur class on the mainland who were keen to provide the best education for their children.
Some private schools have offered boarding facilities and special foreign language and computer classes to attract students.