Ask Headmaster Ken

Hi Ken, great website from what I've seen so far.

I've read your articles on opening a school in China and was wondering if you could point me to further resources on this subject. Any and all info is much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Thank you for your question. The only other resources I found were Chinese government websites such as SAFEA's website and local websites ran by the local bureaus that regulate schools. They provided some guidance as to the structure and requirements in establishing and maintaining operations.

To my knowledge, there are no books for foreigners on the subject and any mention of the topic on the Internet is almost invariably a question on the topic. In fact, that is the main reason I wrote the series, because I saw the question over and over again on various forums.

China is a vast place where customs and procedures vary from place to place, so I don't expect to see a definitive guide in the foreseeable future.

Hi Ken!

I'd like to keep going with this thread. First of all, as many others have pointed out on this forum, you've got a wonderful website that is very helpful is all sorts of aspects.

I'm interested in opening an educational consultancy. Actually, the school would be a major department in my company. Now, I've made some great friends in the local government, who are happy to help me accomplish this, but it seems that they know even less about setting up than I. I also have read your articles on opening an English school. Good stuff. What surprised me, then, is that a couple officials from the local Department of Education told me (along with my government friends) that, according to PRC law, a foreigner is not allowed to open an English school in the PRC (didn't get the name of the books they were quoting, but they looked somewhat official). I listened carefully, and simply said that I thought there were already foreign-owned English schools operating in China. They were in turn surprised, responding with a resounding 不会把, only to be finished with an 一定不会. I also asked them how to apply for an SAFEA certificate for employing foreign experts and one for introducing foreign experts to other educational institutions, to which they replied (translated), "Since it's illegal for a foreigner to own a school in China, it's illegal for one to receive an SAFEA certificate for employing foreign experts."

Anyways, to be a bit direct, how did you open your school in Jilin? Was it a JV or WFOE? How did you go about applying and receiving SAFEA licensing/certification? I talked with the SAFEA in Beijing. They told me to talk to the provincial FAO, which I did. The provincial FAO told me to talk to the local FAO, which I did, along with the Foreign Economic and Trade Bureau. They told me to talk to the local AIC, since they had never encountered such a request, which I did. The local AIC told me to go to the local DOE; I did. My friend from the local DOE made literally over 20 phone calls to local and provincial officials, which finally brought me back to the local FETB, where my friend there told me how to get a consultancy license, but that he didn't know how to get a license for a foreigner to open an English school, let alone the SAFEA certificates. That all happened yesterday. This is so much fun I can hardly stand it. Any advice?

James

James, the answers to your questions are better dealt with privately. Send an e-mail to ken@middlekingdomlife.com.

In the article series posted on this site, Opening Your Own School in China, it states that your partner needs to be a career educator and have experience dealing with the government.

What qualifies as a career educator exactly? If the potential partner doesn't meet this qualification, then will it be simply rejected by the relevant authorities? Or is it worth a try anyway. My potential partner has the experience with government but lacks the education background. Should I give up now and look at getting a different partner?

You will need to check with your own local education officials regarding their own rules for obtaining a school license. It is the local officials who can deny or waive restrictions. They have considerable latitude. In some cases, you'll be able to use a retired educator as a consultant who can meet the requirement on your behalf.

I still maintain your Chinese partner should have both extensive business experience as well as experience dealing with government officials.

I've known foreigners who have enlisted wives or girlfriends and opened schools that limped along for years before floundering simply because the Chinese partner, (despite claims of "guanxi") could not clear the hurdles of local bureaucracy. They simply never met the levels of trust and professionalism that the officials expected.

You need a partner in whom you have total and complete trust. They are not easily found.

In China, where there is a will, there is usually a way. If you are persistent, you will usually, eventually, succeed.