30-Year Int'l School Closure Shock? School Responds

Source: OT-Team(G)

A 30-year-old international school in Beijing has sparked widespread attention amid reports of campus closures, prompting an official response.

Recently, several social media posts alleging "teacher layoffs," "sharp declines in enrollment," and other signs of operational crisis at a long-established international school in Beijing sparked public concern about the stability of international education institutions. Online speculation quickly spread, with multiple schools rumored to be "under suspicion."

On August 20, LIMAI Education Group released an official statement addressing these concerns, clarifying its operational adjustments, school opening plans, and position on misinformation.

According to the statement published on LIMAI's official WeChat account, the Group has decided—after research and analysis of international education trends and China's college entrance examination (Gaokao) reforms—to implement a strategic adjustment at its Jiuhua campus. The campus will shift from an international curriculum to a high school program focused on preparing students for the Gaokao. All existing international programs at Jiuhua will be relocated to the Group's main Yangshan campus in Chaoyang District.

The Group emphasized that the Yangshan campus, supported by mature international education resources and management systems, will ensure continuity of services for international program students and provide a smooth transition, easing parents' concerns over possible "educational gaps."

Addressing the key question of whether the school year will be disrupted, the statement confirmed that all LIMAI campuses—including Jiuhua (Gaokao program), Yangshan, Nanchang, Hainan, and the Hong Kong school—will open on September 1 as scheduled. The Group's kindergartens and U.S.-based school will also begin the new academic year as normal.

In response to social media rumors of "campus closures," LIMAI stressed that such claims are false and misleading. It accused certain platforms of spreading unverified information that has disrupted normal teaching operations. The Group demanded the immediate removal of false content, called for an end to infringement, and warned that it would pursue legal action against individuals and organizations responsible for spreading rumors in order to safeguard its rights and reputation.

The statement concluded by reaffirming LIMAI's 30-year commitment to education, promising to continue providing diverse, high-quality services, and pledging openness to public supervision in order to "safeguard student growth."

This controversy recalls events from November 2024, when financial media reported that the head of LIMAI's DSE curriculum was dismissed for alleged serious misconduct, drawing significant attention from parents. At the time, issues such as teacher turnover and the lack of textbooks in the DSE program also raised concerns, prompting a response from the school.

In recent years, multiple "crisis events" involving international schools have sparked industry-wide debate. LIMAI's latest statement represents a direct response to speculation about its operations, though the long-term impact of its campus restructuring and the effectiveness of its transition measures remain to be seen. For parents, the case highlights the importance of careful, multi-channel verification of school information and rational decision-making when choosing an educational institution.