China is tightening controls on the hiring of foreign teaching staff by universities, who use them as an excuse to bump up tuition charges.

Between 1991 and 1995, some 600 institutions, mostly universities, were authorised to employ foreign teachers. But that figure has doubled, and not entirely legally, according to the State Education Commission.

In addition to universities, adult education and vocational training colleges and centres, middle and primary schools, and even kindergartens are offering classes taught by foreigners. Some are calling themselves "bilingual schools" and charging much higher tuition fees than public schools.

Xu Zhenyuan, deputy director of the State Bureau of Foreign Experts, said that understandably, people believed that mastering a foreign language would help them get into good universities or get better jobs.

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But some institutions were exploiting this belief and the state had to impose limits on the number of foreign teachers.

Educational institutions wanting to employ foreign nationals are required to meet certain criteria, including qualified Chinese assistants, a complete appraisal system, proper living and security guarantees, stable financial resources and a proper knowledge of the foreign expert hiring process.

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When all these conditions are fulfilled institutions must then submit applications to provincial education administrations and foreign affairs ministry officers.

Applications will then go to the state bureau of foreign experts and public security departments for final approval.