Society

Safety is part of new curriculum

By Jin Zhu and Tong Hao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-14 07:05

BEIJING - Schools across the nation are scrambling to hire security guards following a string of violent attacks on children in recent weeks.

In Beijing, a special team of 800 security guards - clad in helmets and protective vests and equipped with truncheons and tear gas - started work on Wednesday.

"All the guards have been given strict training, and a special management team has been set up to give guidance and check their performance," said Ma Xuguang, a director of Beijing Security Service General Company.

An employee at a branch office of the company in Mentougou district said: "We have dispatched 146 guards to join the team responsible for security in 36 schools and kindergartens in the district."

As many as 2,000 security guards have so far been sent to more than 500 kindergartens and schools but it is estimated that thousands more are still needed in Beijing, said He Gang, an official at the Beijing municipal public security bureau.

In Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, security companies are stepping up on recruitment and training as demand soars.

"In only two days, two schools asked for 32 guards, and they have to start work by June 1 after training," said a manager surnamed Zhang at a security service company.

"Working as security guards in schools has become lucrative as the monthly salary will increase from 1,600 yuan ($234) to 2,500 yuan since the job is now considered risky," he said.

However, some private schools do not have the money to hire guards as they do not get government funding.

Zhang said a private school wanted to hire 10 security guards for its 10 branches but "it's actually no use having only one security guard".

Guo Taisheng, a professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University, said "schools should ensure that they hire certified guards so that they are able to protect children".