(Yicai Global) June 5 -- The price of China’s extra-curricular after-school classes did not change much in April, according to a government body entrusted by the Ministry of Education to closely monitor the price of out-of-school classes to ensure there is no price gouging.

Piano lessons inched up 0.7 percent from March to become the most expensive extra-curricular activity at CNY276.60 (USD38.87) per hour, according to the National Development and Reform Commission Price Monitoring Center which surveyed 11 subject areas in 10 cities.

Dance classes cost the least at CNY77.20 (USD10.85) per hour. Swimming lessons dipped 1 percent from March, while art classes edged up 0.5 percent. The prices of the other classes mostly stayed the same.

Beijing was the most expensive place to take your child for out-of-school classes in April, costing an average of CNY202.80 (USD28.50) per hour, a gain of 1 percent from March. While Xi’an in central Shaanxi province was the cheapest at CNY71.80 per hour. Only Wuhan recorded a month-on-month drop of 1.2 percent.

Chinese regulators started to crack down on excessive amounts of homework and after-school tutoring for students in May 2021. It then launched a probe into whether education providers have the right qualifications and whether they are charging above the going rate.

In July 2021, China launched a pilot program in nine cities including Beijing and Shanghai to implement extra-curricular after-school training and to keep a close eye on prices. As of August last year, some 5,266 extra-curricular academic organizations in these cities were being monitored, with nearly CNY1.4 billion (USD196.7 million) under supervision.

Editor: Kim Taylor