RYB Education
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Preschool education |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Cao Chimin, Shi Yanlai |
| Headquarters | Beijing , China |
Area served | People's Republic of China |
Key people | Shi Yanlai (Chairperson) |
| Products | RYB Parent-Child Garden, RYB Kindergarten, Zhudou Parenting App-kit Club |
| Owner | Ascendent Rainbow (Cayman) Limited (30.1%), Cao Chimin (23.6%), Shi Yanlai (13.5%) |
RYB Education (; ) is a publicly traded company specializing in preschool education within the People's Republic of China. Based on revenue figures from 2016, it ranked as the largest provider of early childhood education services in the country. The enterprise manages three primary brands: RYB Parent-Child Garden, RYB Kindergarten, and the Zhudou Parenting App-kit Club. Additionally, it has established strategic collaborations with several American preschool education organizations.
The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, with its main office located in Beijing.
Background
Established in 1998 by Cao Chimin (曹赤民) and Shi Yanlai (史燕来), RYB Education's founders both hold master's degrees from Australian National University and Tsinghua University. Shi Yanlai is also an alumna of Peking University.
At its inception, RYB Parent-Child Garden partnered with Liang Zhiyan from Beijing Normal University to develop preschool curricula. By late 1999, they introduced their initial parent-child classes and progressively expanded to include programs tailored for different age ranges. In 2000, the company secured an official license from the education bureau to provide educational services for children aged 0 to 6. Within three years, RYB began operating directly managed educational institutions.
In 2001, a group of 38 shareholders formed Beijing RYB Education Inc., appointing Shi Yanlai as chairperson. That same year marked the commencement of their franchising model.
RYB Education made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on September 27, 2017. According to SEC disclosures, Ascendent Rainbow (Cayman) Limited was the largest shareholder with a 30.1% stake; Cao Chimin owned 23.6%, while Shi Yanlai held 13.5%.
Issues
Between 2010 and 2017, multiple RYB kindergartens were shut down or ceased operations in cities such as Zhengzhou, Weifang, Yibin, and Tianjin. Health concerns also affected certain locations; for instance, by mid-2016, several children contracted HFMD at the Wankecheng Branch in Qingdao.
Allegations of Abuse
Several RYB kindergartens encountered serious accusations of child abuse. In December 2015, a facility in Tiexi District, Siping was reported for incidents involving needle-stabbing abuse affecting approximately 30 young children. Despite claims of CCTV surveillance, the Education Bureau ordered the kindergarten’s closure and police detained five staff members. Four teachers received nearly three-year prison sentences for guardianship abuse after intentionally avoiding camera coverage and intimidating children. Their appeals were rejected in December 2016.
In April 2017, a video emerged showing a teacher physically mistreating children at the Dahongmen Branch. In response, RYB Education established an emergency task force acknowledging managerial shortcomings that warranted legal measures.
In November 2017, parents at RYB’s Xintiandi Kindergarten in Chaoyang District, Beijing accused personnel of needle-related abuse and administering unidentified white pills to toddlers. Following media reports, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau initiated an investigation. Parents attempting to access surveillance recordings were reportedly denied.
On November 25, authorities detained one teacher on abuse charges and arrested a parent for spreading false information. The Bureau later clarified that no sexual assault had been discovered and dismissed allegations of drugging and molestation as fabricated by two parents. These events significantly damaged RYB’s public image and raised serious questions about governance and supervision within its kindergartens.