Hiring more teachers can cover maternity leave

A NUMBER OF female teachers in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, have reportedly taken maternity leave to bear a second child after the country officially changed the family planning policy this year. China Youth Daily commented on Tuesday:

The number of female teachers wanting a second child might pose a challenge to schools, because replacements are not easy to find. Earlier this year, a high school in Central China's Henan province even issued an annual quota for the number of female teachers who could have a second child for a certain period of time, hinting that those who got pregnant without permission could lose their job.

Such moves have unsurprisingly met criticism. Many argue that giving birth to a second child is legally approved and should be protected, and female teachers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.