In August 2009, the Ministry of Education issued Regulations on the Work of Head Teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools. Every class must have one head teacher, the banzhuren (班主任). Article 2 says that the head teacher “should strive to become the life mentor of primary and secondary school students.”
Article 8 asks the head teacher to know every student fully and to analyze each student’s “thinking, psychology, study and living conditions.” Article 12 asks the head teacher to contact students’ parents and their communities on his or her own initiative.