The Ministry of Education announced in a statement on Wednesday that after-class services for students in Chinese primary and junior middle schools should be voluntary and must not add to their academic workload.

教育部周三在一份声明中宣布，中国小学和初中的学生课后服务应该是自愿的，不能增加学生的学业负担。

These services are designed to support schools in easing the pressures faced by families with children. This initiative comes after the 2021 policy shift aimed at reducing the academic and extracurricular load on students.

这些服务旨在支持学校减轻有孩子的家庭所面临的压力。此举是在2021年政策调整后出台的，该政策旨在减轻学生的学业和课外负担。

Despite these intentions, there have been issues such as additional fees or academic tasks labeled as after-class services in some institutions. Such practices have added more challenges for students and their families, as highlighted by a ministry spokesperson.

尽管有这些意图，但在一些机构中存在额外费用或被标为课后服务的学业任务等问题。正如教育部一位发言人所强调的那样，这些做法为学生和家庭增加了更多挑战。

In response to these challenges, the ministry released guidelines to regulate after-class services more effectively and ensure their quality.

针对这些挑战，教育部发布了指导方针，以更有效地规范课后服务并确保其质量。

The guidelines stress that schools should focus on offering a variety of extracurricular activities, including vocational training, physical education, arts, interest groups, and clubs. Instead of piling on academic tasks or test preparations, schools are encouraged to diversify student experiences.

指导方针强调，学校应侧重提供各种课外活动，包括职业培训、体育、艺术、兴趣小组和俱乐部。学校被鼓励多样化学生的体验，而不是增加学术任务或考试准备。

The document explicitly prohibits unauthorized fees for after-class services and urges local authorities and schools to waive fees for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

该文件明确禁止未经授权的课后服务费用，并敦促地方政府和学校为经济困难家庭的学生免除费用。

Additionally, after-class services should be scheduled after regular school hours and not interfere with the core teaching schedule. Specific offerings like supervised study sessions or lunch breaks by schools should not be mistaken for these after-class services.

此外，课后服务应该安排在正常的上学时间之后，不得干扰核心教学日程。学校提供的特定服务，如监督学习时间或午休时间，不应与课后服务混淆。

The guidelines firmly state that participation in after-class programs must be voluntary. Schools are urged to engage with students to understand their preferences and keep parents informed about program details and safety protocols.

指导方针明确规定，参与课后项目必须是自愿的。学校被敦促与学生沟通，了解他们的偏好，并向家长提供有关项目细节和安全协议的信息。

Furthermore, the guidelines forbid unaccredited organizations and staff from offering after-class services on school premises and enhance oversight of fee structures.

此外，指导方针禁止未经认可的组织和员工在学校场地提供课后服务，并加强对费用结构的监管。

Lastly, the ministry calls for a thorough review of after-class service implementations across different regions. Any necessary modifications will be implemented by the upcoming spring semester.

最后，教育部呼吁对不同地区的课后服务实施进行彻底审查。任何必要的修改将在即将开始的春季学期实施。