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Source: Xinhua | November 10, 2016, Thursday | PRINT EDITION
ZHANG Xun became anxious when she heard about an amended law passed this week targeting private schools.
The Law to Promote Private Education Institutes, which takes effect in September 2017, bans for-profit private schools from enrolling students from primary to junior high school, the period covered by China's nine-year compulsory education program.
Zhang's initial reaction was one of shock as the news spread around social media groups popular with parents of private school students.
"I'm totally lost," was one message. "What does it mean?" asked another. However, concerns that their children's schools would be shut turned out to be unwarranted.
Education officials say licensed private schools in China are registered as non-profits, meaning they will not be affected by the law. "Most online reports misunderstood the law," said Wang Feng, an official with the National Center of Education Development Research.
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