Several international schools in China have recently announced that they will change their names. This includes well-known institutions such as Harrow Beijing, which has been renamed to Lide School, as well as others such as WLSA Shanghai Academy and the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen.
The name changes are in response to a policy originally issued in May 2021, which (among other rules) set regulations on the names of private schools. Restrictions include:
- Schools’ names may not include the name of any overseas education institution
- Schools’ names may not include the name of any overseas country or place, or any foreign word
- Schools’ names may not include certain words such as “国际” (“international”), “世界” (“world”), “中国” / “中华” (“China”), or similar terms
- Private schools’ names may not include the name of Chinese public schools
The recent policy only applies to schools that are open to Chinese citizens – it does not affect institutions that only recruit students with foreign passports. However, these schools’ names were already restricted from using certain terms like “China” or “National” in their names, and their Chinese names must end with “外籍人员子女学校” (“School for the children of foreign personnel”) .
British Council Analysis
Schools have emphasised that the recently-announced changes were limited to their names and that the education they deliver will not change. However, the changes may affect the marketing of schools operating on a partnership model with UK schools, and potentially may also have an impact on Chinese schools’ attitudes towards partnering with UK institutions.
While the policy enforcing these name changes is not new, this policy came as part of a package of increased regulations on private education which were announced last year. These regulations were previously reported by the British Council (see link below), with one prominent restriction being that foreign-invested enterprises were forbidden from running private schools for Chinese citizens at the compulsory education level (ages 6-15).
Despite these restrictions there is still high demand for private education in China, especially at the high-school (post-compulsory) education level. The Chinese government also welcomes private investment in the vocational education sector.
Sources:
Revised version- Implementation Regulations for the Promotion Law on Private Education
http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2021-05/14/content_5606463.htm
Regulation on public schools to run or engage in the operation of private schools at compulsory level
http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-08/25/content_5633199.htm
British Council: China issues revised regulations on private education sector