You might remember the Chinese government's crackdown on tutoring from last year. Perhaps you were even affected by it yourself. Here’s a quick recap: on a crusade to exterminate for-profit tutoring, the Chinese government banned all forms of online and offline private instruction, including the usage of video calling apps and software to conduct sessions as well as holding tutoring sessions in cafes or at students’ homes.

The rationale behind the policy? This was in part the Chinese government’s effort to increase the birth rate, which has fallen to a worrying 1.7 kids per woman. It’s no secret that China’s ruthlessly competitive educational system impacts couples’ willingness and means to raise children. Up until the tutoring ban, the average Chinese family spent USD 17,400 a year on tutoring, with up to 75% of families incorporating tutoring services into their child’s daily routine. The cut-throat academic environment and a national phenomena of pupils striving to achieve academic excellence created an epidemic of overtired, depressed primary and secondary school students.

Equally worrying for the Chinese government (or perhaps even more so, depending who you ask), was that the tutoring industry was consistently swallowing enormous amounts of investment funding which could have otherwise flowed into industries directly beneficial to China’s economic and technological development (such as AI, Big Data, or Biotech).

The new regulations make up a comprehensive list of do’s and don’t’s. For instance, evening and weekend classes are not permitted, which leaves little leeway with regard to tutoring times. Additionally, foreign firms have been barred from acquiring shares in tutoring institutions, and all existing private tutoring giants are legally required to become non-profits if they wish to remain in operation.

Of course, where there is demand, there will be supply. Primary and secondary schools have now undertaken some of the burden, offering after-school tutoring on a greater scale than ever before. Still, it is far from enough — many particularly determined parents have resorted to arranging borderline illegitimate private tutoring sessions via video calling platforms, or sending their kids to pursue an education abroad earlier — which would allow them enough time to prepare for university applications to Europe and the States.

If you were previously employed by a Chinese tutoring company such as VIPkid or Gogokid, or if a significant number of your students were based in China — we send you our deepest sympathies! Still, it’s been months since the tutoring ban, and many tutors have readjusted. Just like with any major change, the tutoring ban created new opportunities. Below, you’ll find some of the things many tutors have done and suggest you do to adapt.

1. Connect with former students personally. While official for-profit tutoring is gone, the cut-throat competitive learning environment prevails. For this reason, many Chinese parents are still greatly interested in continuing their child’s tutoring sessions. If you haven’t done so already, try and get hold of the parents’ WeChat contact information — that way, you’ll be able to arrange private tutoring sessions via a different medium. Parents may even refer you to other parent. Make sure you have your credentials, medium, resume, and payment method on standby.

2. Move on to teaching adults. Perhaps it’s time to start a new chapter teaching students outside of China. Platforms such as Preply or italki facilitate online language tutoring. It’s quick and easy to sign up, and you can get started straight away.

3. Start that tutoring business you’ve been dreaming of — use the ban as a catalyst to finally set up your own website and start your own tutoring brand.

When approached correctly, every challenge can be transformed into an opportunity. China’s tutoring crackdown is no different – the havoc-wreaking incident turned out to be a blessing in disguise for those who were able to quickly adjust to the new circumstances. After all, in an industry that has proven to be as unpredictable as online tutoring, adaptability is the key to success. But more on that in our next blog!