Cramming company 'not qualified'

A Shanghai company that offered city students a cramming program at a school in Anhui Province had no educational business qualification, the market watchdog in Minhang District announced on Wednesday.

Authorities have ordered Yu Daojiang, owner of Shanghai Maijianshi Information Technology Co, to cease the illegal business.

An investigation was launched following media reports that Maotanchang Middle School in the city of Lu'an was recruiting Shanghai students not satisfied with their performance in this year’s gaokao, or college entrance exam, to prepare them to sit it again next year.

The market watchdog said Shanghai Maijianshi Information Technology Co had an office in the Zhonggeng Global Creative Center in Minhang, while it was registered in Hongkou District. Operating a business outside its registered address is against regulations.

It also found the company had no qualification or license related to education and that it was providing a consultation service about the cramming program with a view to directing students to Jin’an Senior High School in Anhui, not Maotanchang Middle School.

Shanghai authorities are investigating the company on suspicion of false advertising.

Education authorities in Luan said they had ordered the training center at Jin’an Senior High School to terminate its contract with the Shanghai company and punish those responsible for the program.