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Josephine Ma

A top international school in Beijing is locked  in a tug of war with angry parents - mostly  expatriates, Hong Kong residents, and mainlander returnees  - after announcing  a 700 per cent  fee increase.

Parents of Fangcaodi primary school,  formerly under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but now run by the  city's education authorities, said they were shocked  to learn the annual fee would jump from 6,000 yuan  to 48,000 yuan next year.

The school has two sections - one for international students and one for local students - and  about 800 students attend the international section.

The school never formally notified the parents about the increase, but some parents found out  by enrolling younger siblings of their children  last week, according to parent representative Annie Zhang.

The school was swamped with inquiries  from parents when they learned the new rate would apply to current students.

But parents were confused by differing replies, with some parents being told on Thursday that children of diplomats, and residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan would be exempt from the increase.

A school official yesterday said the rise  would not take effect  for the semester beginning in September, and that she was not sure whether it would be introduced  in February next year.

A notice yesterday said current students would be 'temporarily' exempted, but added that the increase had been approved by Beijing education authorities. Parents were additionally incensed  after learning teachers had asked students  on Thursday whether they would stay on  for the next year.

'Children were asked whether they were children of diplomats, Hong Kong and Macau residents, and whether they plan to stay or leave when they have to pay more,' said  parent Debbie Zhang. 'The private tutor of my child was on the phone with the class teacher and the teacher requested to talk to me, then she asked me whether I knew about the increment and whether my child will stay or not. It causes anxiety among the children because many of them don't know what will happen and they were asked to confirm whether they would pay the higher fee and stay or not.' Kim Myung-suk, who has two children studying at the school, said it was difficult for expatriate parents to find schools for their children.

'It is unreasonable to raise the price suddenly. Where can our children go?' she said.

Parents said they had already paid 20,000 yuan in 'sponsor fees' - to be banned this year -  when they first enrolled their children and a large increase  in the school fee was unthinkable for them.



Parents shocked by 700pc fee rise at Beijing international school