Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the issues surrounding the sale of large course packages by online education institutions, particularly LingoAce, which are seen as a means of binding consumers to long-term commitments and potentially violating regulatory guidelines on prepayment for educational services [1][10][11]. Group 1: Course Package Issues - Many parents report difficulties in finding smaller course packages, with institutions primarily promoting large packages that exceed 60 hours, contrary to regulations [1][3][10]. - LingoAce previously offered a smaller package of 36 hours but discontinued it due to low demand, indicating a trend towards larger packages [4]. - Other institutions also offer large packages, with some reaching up to 186 hours and costing over 30,000 yuan, reinforcing the trend of promoting long-term commitments [5]. Group 2: Consumer Rights and Regulatory Compliance - Parents express concerns that the lack of smaller packages limits their choices and may be driven by the institutions' desire to secure cash flow and customer retention [5][6]. - Legal experts highlight that institutions must comply with domestic regulations, which prohibit charging for more than 60 hours of instruction at once, regardless of whether they operate cross-border [10][11]. - The article notes that institutions may not adequately inform consumers about course expiration dates and mandatory consumption rules, potentially infringing on consumer rights [7][9]. Group 3: Regulatory Framework - The Ministry of Education has established clear guidelines regarding prepayment for educational services, emphasizing that institutions must not charge for more than 60 hours at a time [10][11]. - Institutions like LingoAce are criticized for using promotional courses to artificially inflate total hours, which could be seen as a violation of these regulations [11].