The Education Bureau warns parents and students to carefully check the registration status of private schools offering non-formal curriculums, such as tutorial, commercial, language and computer courses.

It today reminded parents and students to choose a school registered or provisionally registered with the bureau - and to check its registration certificate.

They should carefully read the information in the schools' course leaflets, such as course fees and collection method.

Parents and students should pay course fees monthly and retain formal receipts. They should not pay in a lump sum, such as by credit card.

The leaflet on notes on choosing private schools is available here.