Turn into taking photos with the school gate?, Nearly 10000 yuan "Tsinghua Peking University Study Tour" Study Tour | Project | Campus Gate
Summer vacation is approaching, and a variety of research and learning projects are hotly restarting. Visit museums and science museums to experience the mysteries of astronomy, geography, and history; Entering well-known universities and accepting the baptism of knowledge; Deepen into outdoor campsites and experience a hiking adventure... With a focus on cultivating students' comprehensive qualities, the immersive exploration, learning, and experience of graduate studies are highly welcomed by parents and students.
However, a Beijing Evening News reporter found through investigation that there are numerous "traps" hidden behind the booming academic research——
Phenomenon 1: High price and low quality
Research and study become disguised as high priced travel
"It's more meaningful to travel with one family than to sign up for a so-called research camp for the children." Recently, Ms. Pei, who lives in Fengtai District, is planning a summer trip for her daughter who just entered the first day of junior high school. She has searched all the research projects recommended by major platforms, and consulted her relatives and friends. Ms. Pei roast: "The price is too high, and now the research projects in the market do not seem to be worth much."
Ms. Pei casually clicked on a link in the parent group called "Rural Children's Interest Public Welfare Research and Learning Project". The advertisement introduced that the children will go to a village in Hebei Province, where they will enjoy the natural wilderness while visiting different families, participate in agricultural activities, and learn independent living skills. However, upon careful study of the itinerary, it can be found that only one and a half days of the 5-day activities are related to the theme, while the rest are filled with activities such as hiking in the mountains and fields, playing in the river, catching fish and shrimp, and picking vegetables and fruits.
"The only thing that can be connected with the cultivation of independent living ability is the afternoon of the the fourth day of 'making a fire to cook firewood pot rice'." Ms. Pei said, "Can't children do this activity at home? Why do they have to travel all the way to the countryside? The price is not cheap, and it will cost 4980 yuan in five days."
Following this clue, the reporter investigated more than 50 research projects from nearly 30 research institutions in Beijing on a well-known travel ticketing platform and found that natural ecology, cultural history, and technological innovation have become popular themes for research. The projects are roughly divided into urban single day tours, inter provincial and city short distance tours, and cross-border long-distance tours, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand to tens of thousands. Especially with the relaxation of epidemic policies, international research and learning projects have resurfaced, with prices reaching a sky high of 73000 yuan.
"In terms of price, is there a unified standard in the research industry? Now I feel that the pricing is very casual." Mr. Liu, a parent who is engaged in the tourism industry, took the popular research destination and ancient capital Xi'an as an example: "The price of the tour group in the market for four days and three nights is about 3000 yuan, and some high-end private groups can reach 5000 yuan." However, when Xi'an was labeled as "research", on the basis of the projects generally included in the tour group, such as the card punching ancient city wall, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Tang Never Night City, the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum of the First Emperor of Qin, plus the experience of Qin culture, the Terra Cotta Warriors hand work, and the "Poems Flying Flowers" After two "blockbuster appreciation courses", An Yinxiang and Appreciation of National Treasure Calligraphy, the price doubled immediately to 9880 yuan.
Many parents roast that their children had played for a while and had little to gain when they came back. Studying is a high priced travel in the cloak of learning. "When the child came back from the cultural research camp in Beijing, his mind was full of what he had played in the Universal Studios in Beijing, what toys he had bought, and no mention of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square or the National Museum he had been to." Ms. Wang, a parent from Linfen, Shanxi, told the reporter, "The original intention was to let the child learn about the history and culture of Beijing through research, which might also be helpful for history learning. Now it seems that 10000 yuan has been wasted."
Phenomenon 2: Traveling without Learning
"Famous school tours" often become "here for a trip"
Compared to the price, the graduate program is more criticized by parents for spending a lot of money, but the actual content does not match the advertising, which is suspected of false advertising.
Recently, Ms. Ding, a parent, posted a social media post condemning a certain research institution's false advertising behavior, claiming that she couldn't enter under the banner of a prestigious university and felt like she was being scammed.
She said that she carefully selected the summer study program for her 9-year-old son Xiao Liang on July 3rd, and the advertisement clearly mentioned a visit to Peking University. "At that time, when the child saw that he could enter Peking University, his eyes lit up and he was clamoring to apply for it." Ms. Ding said that although the price of 9980 yuan for the project far exceeded her psychological expectations, she still bought the order for her son's dream of attending a prestigious school. "I also hope that he can experience a different cultural atmosphere in a prestigious school and motivate him to study hard."
"It is clearly stated here that students will spend the whole day at Peking University, visiting the campus to learn about professional disciplines and campus life, and completing the targeted challenge of 'New Youth in the Awakening Era'. On the itinerary displayed by Ms. Ding to the reporter, there is a bold text that reads' Youth Power Summoning on the Third Day, All Day: Peking University '. In the evening, there will also be a' Top Scholar Meeting 'where students will meet with Peking University alumni, share their growth experiences, and engage in ideological exchanges.".
However, while Xiaoliang was eagerly waiting to depart, Ms. Ding was informed that due to Peking University not yet open for public visits during the group period, her daily itinerary was replaced by visiting other museums. "The staff also said that considering the child's wish to check in at prestigious schools, they will arrange for everyone to take a group photo at the entrance of Tsinghua or Peking University." Ms. Ding helplessly said that the study at prestigious schools has become a group photo at the school gate, leaving parents very helpless.
The reporter noticed that both Peking University and Tsinghua University have recently issued notices to resume campus reservation visits and implement quota management from July 8th. This means that tourists who are eager to visit prestigious schools have the opportunity to make their own reservations for admission. However, both schools have also made it clear that campus visits do not charge any fees and refuse to provide paid visiting services. It is still unknown whether numerous research projects promoted under the banner of prestigious schools can enter the school.
In a further investigation, the reporter found that there are still quite a few research and learning programs on the market that are being promoted by prestigious schools.
For example, in some projects, photos of the gates of Tsinghua and Peking University are placed on the promotional homepage. Upon careful reading of the introduction, it is discovered that the so-called Tsinghua Graduate School actually leads students to visit the Tsinghua University Art Museum, which is located outside the campus of Tsinghua University. Ordinary tourists can make an appointment to visit by paying 20 yuan for a ticket. Some projects claim to have invited "graduates or teachers from prestigious schools" to teach, but there is no clear explanation of the identity of the teachers. It is also impossible to verify whether they are actually "from prestigious schools" as advertised. These educational programs are far from the expectations of parents and students for prestigious school tours.
Phenomenon Three: Difficulty in Ensuring Teacher Quality
Certification from the Ministry of Education can be purchased directly with money
A sudden vehicle malfunction trapped 43 elementary school students on the highway; A 12-year-old boy was hit and killed by a stone lamp in a scenic area; A 16-year-old student who participated in desert exploration and study suffered from heatstroke during the summer vacation, but died due to failure to detect it in time... In recent years, research accidents have occurred frequently, sounding the alarm for safety management in the industry.
Sending a child held in the palm of their hand to a graduate school teacher has caused many parents to feel anxious. "It seems that all projects focus on the content of research and learning, and rarely mention the safety and teaching staff issues that parents are more concerned about." Ms. Guo, who lives in Xicheng District, said that she once registered for a "bilingual field research camp" for her daughter. The child can follow a foreign teacher to the field camp and learn survival skills in an all English teaching context.
However, a careless sharing after her daughter returned made Ms. Guo feel scared. "I remember that afternoon, it was gloomy and seemed like it was going to rain," Ms. Guo's 13-year-old daughter recalled. The coach took them to a wide lake and taught them how to make their own bamboo raft according to plan. "After tying up the bamboo raft, we went into the water to compete who could row faster and farther." The excited children did not notice that a storm was about to come. "We didn't row on the water for long before it started raining heavily. The teacher quickly called us ashore, and some students who were slow to react fell directly into the water. However, everyone was wearing life jackets and there was no danger."
"Do these teachers all know how to swim? Do they have a certificate of deep water qualification? Why not arrange the itinerary reasonably based on the weather forecast?" Ms. Guo listened to her daughter's explanation and expressed concern that accidents often hide among these hidden dangers.
At present, there are no mandatory requirements for the personal qualifications of teachers in the graduate market, such as teacher qualification certificates, tour guide certificates, and first aid certificates. Last year, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security added the occupation of "research travel instructor" in the newly revised Occupational Classification Code of the People's Republic of China Occupational Classification Dictionary, which means that research teachers have an officially recognized "ID card". As a result, more and more graduate school teachers choose to obtain the "Graduate School Travel Instructor" certificate as their "self certification identity.". However, the investigation by reporters found that there are also tricks involved. Obtaining this certificate requires steps such as registration, training and learning, and taking theoretical and practical exams. Correspondingly, there have been numerous "certification and training institutions" in the market, claiming that they can spend money to buy exam questions, and even obtain the certificate directly without taking an exam.
The reporter contacted an institution, and the staff introduced that paying 1500 yuan can obtain the precise question bank for the "Graduate Study Travel Guide" certificate exam. After completing online training, one can obtain a certificate certified by the Ministry of Education. "All are original questions, test against the answers to ensure passing!" Subsequently, the reporter expressed the intention of "urgently obtaining the certificate", with the other party hinting: "Add 100 yuan, hand over the exam to us, just wait and get the certificate." When the reporter questioned the certificate purchased with money, the staff sent a series of links to the official website of the Ministry of Education, indicating that the certificate can be checked for authenticity on the official website. "Don't worry, many graduate school teachers are taking this certificate now, and the market recognition is very high."
Under such chaos, the research and learning market is still becoming increasingly hot due to the high price and low quality of research and learning projects, the lack of learning while traveling, and the difficulty in distinguishing the authenticity of teacher qualifications. Many parents are calling for strengthened supervision of research programs and for children to embark on a journey of learning while traveling.
