Following the recent allegations towards a Beijing childcare center, it’s a welcomed relief to hear that a new round of inspections at Shanghai kindergartens will be rolled out. Aimed at further tightening their procedures and reviewing their management, the action is to ensure that all children are taught in a safe environment.
The inspection has been instigated by the Office of National Education Commission, which released a statement last Friday ordering all municipal cities and provinces to carry out inspections on kindergartens in the wake of the recent child abuse allegations in Beijing.
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This new round of inspections will focus on kindergartens’ certifications, their teachers and childminders’ morality and qualifications, as well as security conditions such as food safety, sanitation and fire control.
It will also work as a driving force to push all districts to establish or improve on their current regulations in kindergartens. This will include granting permission to open new centers, undertaking regular supervisions, boosting their inspection procedure for identifying illegal kindergartens, and strengthening the accountability system to deal with contingencies.
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The Shanghai Office of Education Inspection has ordered that all local districts launch the process immediately. If any problems are detected during the inspections, they should send feedback promptly and urge the kindergarten to rectify straight away.
Unannounced, random inspections upon newly-opened and private kindergartens will also be carried out by the city authority, to check on the progress and thoroughness of local districts’ assessments.
Even though on Tuesday the Beijing Police dismissed the parents’ allegations of kindergarten abuse, it’s a relief that in Shanghai steps are being taken to tighten the boundaries on facilities, to ensure children will be cared for and taught in a safe environment.
[Images via Kankanews]
