(Yicai Global) Aug. 12 -- Chinese education technology firm New Oriental Education & Technology Group has launched teaching centers in Beijing and Hangzhou offering training courses for parents as part of its moves to diversify amid tighter oversight of extracurricular education.

The Beijing-based company has not yet determined the start date and prices, but the courses are intended for parents of children at kindergarten through 12th grade, East Money Information reported, citing a New Oriental staff member.

The main content will be family education, parenting methods, emotional intelligence management, time management and efficient learning, the report said.

The courses will not help parents teach core subjects like Chinese, English and math, as it would not be effective, a staff member at New Oriental’s Beijing unit said. In addition to training parents, the firm teaches arts, natural sciences and sports. 

Other firms in the edtech sector have also been diversifying their businesses. Gaotu Techedu has developed vocational education courses, and Yuanfudao has launched courses for children aged three to eight.

Shares in listed online tutoring companies focusing on kindergarten-to-grade 12 education have plunged over 50 percent since late July. New Oriental’s stock price [NYSE: EDU] sank 2.3 percent to USD2.14 in New York yesterday.

Editor: Tom Litting