The coming winter vacation won't be an easy time for most local primary and secondary school students while the Shanghai Education Commission announced on Monday that all supplementary classes are prohibited.

The education commission wants students to rest and relax during the holiday. However, violators are common, finding a way to bend the rules.

According to a survey by a local newspaper, about 70 percent of the surveyed 400 local primary and secondary school students said they have to attend additional classes in winter vacation.

The vacation starts next Monday and depending on the school, can be three or four weeks long.

The supplementary classes students have to attend -- either sponsored by schools or some training centers -- include subjects such as Chinese literature, maths, English and others.

Students have to pay extra tuition fees, usually 500 yuan (US$60), for two or three weeks of study.

The education authority didn't say what punishment -- most likely fines -- would be handed out to schools if they ignore the regulation and continue classes.

Zhou Fei, 18, a local student, said they have to continue their study for one week after their peers have gone on holiday, and return another week earlier.

"Schools insist that is not a supplemental class because students still can have a rest during the Spring Festival," Zhou said, adding that she disagrees with the extra course load.

Starting the upcoming semester earlier is also another way for extra classes, according to Wang Xiaofei, 18, another local student.

"Classes starting before the normal semester would be considered part of that semester, which exempts them from banned winter vacation courses," Wang said, adding that half of his classmates have to attend such additional classes.

Local parents have a different attitude than most students and are tolerant -- in many cases even supportive -- of the extra curriculum.

"The students have to sit for difficult examinations next summer, how can they give up studying and waste the winter vacation playing?" said Yan Chunfang, Zhou's mother.

"Seeing other students attending such classes, I cannot let my child fall behind," she added.

(Shanghai Daily January 15, 2004)