China's education chiefs have banned underage arts students from participating in commercial performances after a scandal involving dance students serving "internships" at erotic dance clubs last year.

New regulations published by the Ministry of Education prohibit primary and secondary schools from organizing students to perform for commercial shows or events.

In November, a dance school in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, sent 22 underage girls to give erotic performances at clubs. The performances were described as "internships", but the school's license was revoked when the news broke.

However, school chairman Guo Guisheng argued it was not "inappropriate" for the girls to take part in social activities and that he was "doing a good deed" as most of the students were from poor families.

The regulations say some schools have a distorted view of art education and the healthy development of students.

Music, singing and dance schools have boomed in China as parents see the cultural development of their children as a qualification for good schools.

But many schools have profited from organizing students to perform commercially, and some charge entry fees for exams or competitions.

These activities have impaired the children's normal study and understanding of arts, say regulations, which also ban schools from recruiting students on the basis of performance tests.

Tian Kejian, a Chinese musician, said, "Artistic accomplishment is a long process and involves more than just winning a few prizes in art contests or passing tests."

"It needs the participants' enthusiasm and interest," he said.