China has pledged stern actions against irregular off-campus tutoring activities featuring curriculum subjects.

Unlicensed institutions and individuals offering backdoor curriculum subject-tutoring services, such as household services and consulting, will be investigated and handled in accordance with the related law and regulations, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.

Students attend extracurricular activities at an elementary school in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, September 1, 2021. /CFP

The document also clarifies other types of irregularities in off-campus curriculum subject-tutoring activities, including those violating regulations on who can provide such services as well as when, where and how such services can be provided.

Meanwhile, primary and secondary school teachers are banned from being paid for offering extra lessons after class, the circular says.

It also bans conducting tutoring of core school subjects under the disguise of summer camps or training of art, sports, science and technology, adding that offline institutions cannot provide such services through online channels, such as livestreaming and online conferencing.