Flexible end times for classes

Education chief: Parents should be freed from struggle to pick up kids

Education Minister Chen Baosheng has pledged that the nation's primary and middle schools will be allowed flexibility in setting the time they end their classes, in a bid to free parents from the burden of picking up their children during working hours.

"Many parents have told me it has become a major concern for them and even grandparents to pick up children after school on time," Chen said at a meeting with members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body.