Night schools gain popularity among youth in Jinan

Night school is becoming a popular trend in Jinan.

The registration system for the 2024 spring semester of the "YEAH Returnee" Citizen Night School opened at 10 am on April 1, with over 140,000 people rushing to secure spots online. Within just one hour of opening, nearly two-thirds of the courses were fully booked.

The program is primarily aimed at people aged 18 to 55 and will take place from April 9 to early July, every evening from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. A total of 58 courses will be offered, covering subjects such as jazz dance, floral arrangement training, stand-up comedy, scenic photography, wine tasting, and yoga.

The 21 class venues, including the Jinan Library Central Branch, some district and county libraries, 11 Quancheng Studies, and seven collaborative teaching sites, are set to commence classes simultaneously, with an estimated capacity of over 2,000 individuals. The night school adheres to the principles of public welfare and inclusivity, with course fees mostly ranging from 20 to 50 yuan ($2.76 to $6.91) per session.

The burgeoning popularity of night schools reflects the current generation's thirst for knowledge, said Wang Zhongwu, professor at Shandong University. The night schools provide them with an opportunity to fill gaps in their education.

"In the future, for night schools to achieve sustainable development, it is essential to pay attention to student feedback," Wang said. The hosts and teachers should regularly engage in dialogue with students, inquiring about issues encountered during classes, areas for improvement, and course offerings, and promptly optimizing night school educational services to ensure its continued normalization.