New EMBA program launched -- for six year olds

There was some confusion -- intentional, perhaps -- behind calling this program an "EMBA" program, because the "E" here stands for "early" and not for "executive." The program(s) costs about 12,000 RMB, which, according to this article (in Chinese) averages out to more than 100 RMB an hour. Most of these kids are from Shanghai and spend their parents' hard earned money learning creative writing, basic concepts of economics (buying and selling, the origin of money), science, writing and communication. What is interesting is that this isn't the high end of the education market -- the exorbitant costs of the so-called aristocratic schools (贵族学校）make this EMBA program seem like a good deal. Though Shanghaiist doesn't know much about the situation (we still have to find someone to have our babies first), it seems that these people are trying to carve out a middle ground between the super-expensive schools and the public schools, where some parents feel their kids don't get enough attention or might even get yelled at.

Who knows though, it might be worth it -- you don't want your kids to end up among the 50 subway pickpockets who were recently busted by the Shanghai police. They were part of a pickpocket ring that used minors as well as pregnant women to rob people when they were getting on or off the subway cars. We're curious though, do preggers pickpockets get maternity leaves?

Photo from femz.punt.nl.