Yes, even in another school where we're enrolled they've told us that they're gonna increase the fee in that amount. It's more than double
what we've paid for this semester. The said policy might apply this September. Just maybe it's time to move to the university unless
they apply the same policy there. Hope not!

After talking to several Chinese associated with language schools and teaching Chinese, I am beginning to see a picture immerge.

My school confirms the pending 8,000 yuan per semester price. But enough was said to give me the idea it was not a regulation, nor was it an order. I got the idea they were throwing this against the wall to see if it would stick.

I told them that an increase of, in my case, 105% was not acceptable. I said this move was a stupid business move. I also said that this school will close. I said I would not pay it and I would go to another school or move to another city.

While I was being given the tiresome "China has a lot of people...," and "China works differently..." crap, a phone call was being made. Here is some new information:

A meeting was held with the "government" and schools from 20 cities. Yes, not 20 schools but schools from 20 cities. This it seems to me to be bigger than Kunming and bigger than Yunnan. Or is it?

Other things were said which gave the idea this is a trial balloon. If the stupid foreigners fall for this everyone will be doing great. Great except the teachers who will not get any increases and may be out of work.

I think this is a price fixing plot.

Some idiot(s) with an arithmetic skill level ending at the 2 times table sees a huge windfall. Double revenue and hold costs constant. Nice. Oh, the key assumption is stupid foreign students will agree, have no alternatives, and will just pay.

If the demand for Chinese classes is inelastic it is a bonanza!

Note: I said I would change schools or move to another city. After the phone call the "20 cities" gambit was played. Duh. Guess there is no place to go. Yeah right.

I was also told if one school does not raise tuition to 8,000 it is likely other schools would not.

My suggestion is to struggle against this unjustified, unwarranted, excessive increase. Express your dissatisfaction and explain your alternatives. I am sure if a school lost all its students, or most of them, it might reconsider the magnitude of the increase. Dong Fang appears to be taking the lead.

I am not interested in organizing a resistance. I am not interested in any effort to present a united front. I do think that each of us, as individuals, need to assess the impact and alternatives this situation presents.

A 100% increase in tuition is not a smart business move.

This looks like a job for the Fake Apple Store blogger to hit the news with.

I can see the headline now 'Communist country engages in cartels and price fixing'

I think we should compile a list of schools that do not plan on the price increase. make that list available and tell the students at dong fang and whatever other schools are pushing for the "screw the foreigner" price hike. I am tempted to greet each student at dong fang and hand out business cards to other language schools.

i do suggest an organized effort. the chinese have recently been responding to outcries from bloggers on certain injustices. so i suggest every foreigner willing, to call every language school they can in the next few days to complain and somehow stand up against the corporate greed. sometimes crap like this makes me want to say screw this country.

For the favor of China and Chinese culture spreading through the language they had better never do that for me simply i can even gave up studying Chinese if i have no way around except the 8000 per semester .

It seems that Dong Fang is like a prison. It induces students to register in a short time with the excuse of raising price soon. Once you get in, you can never get out!!! One guy that I met at Salvador's, wanted to transfer to another school, but was forced to stay at Dong Fang because Dong Fang refused to give him a so-called "transfer letter." I have ruled out Dong Fang from my list. I don't want to pay to be in a prison.

I went on a little emailing rant to all the language schools listed on goKunming. So far the only one to reply is Keats, who said they will not raise prices. So, worst case for me is that I go there.

Fogdear Keats is a good school if i were you i would make it my first case not worst case

Calm down!!! I have received firm information from a reputable language school that it is impossible that the government will require the schools to raise the prices to 8000yuan per semester.

In order to promote the private schools' education in China, Chinese Education Department has a law named "民办教育促进法" N0.37 states clearly that private schools are free to set their own prices ("民办学校对接受学历教育的受教育者收取费用的项目和标准由学校制定,报有关部门批准并公示；对其他受教育者收取费用的项目和标准由学校制定,报有关部门备案并公示。")

Besides, Yunnan Provincial Education Bureau also has a law named "关于规范民办教育收费管理工作通知", states clearly that non-degree private schools can decide how much tuition and fees they themselves want to charge. ("非学历教育的学费、住宿费收费标准由民办教育自行确定。") In other words, there is no upper limit or lower limit for tuition fees for private schools in China and the schools are free to charge any reasonable prices.

It is impossible that the government will break through the laws, to intervene the price charging and force schools to charge 8000yuan per semester. Some schools might raise their prices, which is understandable because it is the school's right to raise prices. Having said that, I think most schools will not raise prices. Therefore, let's rest assured!