From enhanced English, life skills to STEM, technology... each item is not large if standing alone, but combined becomes a significant burden for many families. All these fees are labeled as voluntary, but it is a difficult choice for parents. Not registering is worrying about children being disadvantaged, registering adds cost pressure.
From parents' concerns, the issue of linked teaching in public schools needs to be considered thoroughly.
Looking directly at the problem, linked teaching is not a negative thing. In many cases, this is a way to supplement content that the main curriculum has not kept up with, such as foreign languages, digital skills or experiential activities. But when the boundary between "support" and "replacement" is blurred, when the responsibility of the school is shared with external units without a strict control mechanism, the consequences are inevitable.
What parents want is not to completely eliminate linked programs if they are really effective. Parents need a transparent educational environment where all fees are clearly explained, all programs have specific goals and are seriously evaluated for effectiveness.
To control linked teaching, first of all, it is necessary to return to the core principle that schools must be the main subjects responsible for the quality of education. This requires localities to have long-term plans and be responsible for training, recruiting and arranging teachers, especially in subjects that are still lacking such as Music, Fine Arts, and Foreign Languages.
Next, it is necessary to establish a transparent "barrier" for linked programs. Each program must be publicized from content, duration, coordinating unit to collection level and method of using funds. Parents' opinions should not stop at form, but need to become a substantive, verifiable process. When the information is complete and clear, parents can make the right choice.
Another aspect that cannot be ignored is efficiency assessment. It is not possible to just rely on the titles "international", "improved" or "advanced" to affirm quality. Linked programs need to be periodically inspected, with specific and public criteria. If the added value for students cannot be proven, then the continued implementation also needs to be reconsidered.
Finally, it is necessary to ensure that all linked activities comply with the principle of voluntariness. No class division, no psychological pressure, no allowing students who do not participate to be "outside" common activities. Only then will the choice rights of parents and students be truly respected.
The tuition fee exemption policy is an important policy in ensuring educational security. But for this policy to fully promote its meaning, it is impossible to let "hidden" fees reduce its actual value. The control of linked teaching is therefore not only a management story, but also a measure of the commitment to caring for future generations.
