The photograph of a woman sweeping a street in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, with her 3-year-old son tied on her back has sparked a debate on micro blogs, with netizens expressing sympathy and sorrow on her condition, says an article on voc.com.cn. Excerpts:

It was not unusual for workers to take their children to work back in the 1980s when preschool education was still in its infancy in China. But it is rather rare to see a scene like the one in Wenzhou today when public and private kindergartens have mushroomed across the country. Statistics show that the number of kindergartens in China had reached 138,200 in 2009.

So why did the woman in Wenzhou have to carry her son on her back while working? Perhaps she and her husband are migrant workers and, hence, their child cannot go to a school in the city or avail of social welfare. Or, their earnings are not enough to send their child to a private kindergarten.

It is said that "parents should not let their children fall behind at the starting line". But it is highly likely that the child in the photograph will miss precious preschool education. Worse, the hardship and poverty of the family could continue, compromising their child's future.

Government officials should pay more attention to people living at the bottom of the social ladder, treat them as equal citizens and provide them access to social welfare and allow their children to attend public schools and kindergartens.

(China Daily 12/01/2011 page9)