Better pay and training to ensure tots entrusted to qualified carers

AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE at a kindergarten in Beijing, all kindergartens in the capital are to be staffed with inspectors to oversee their operation, the local education authority announced on Sunday. Beijing News commented on Sunday:

The embattled kindergarten has fired its head and a 22-year-old teacher after she was detained "on suspicion of abusing those under her care". Since last week parents of the children at the kindergarten have been circulating photos of what they claim are needle marks on their children. Some also said their kids had been fed white pills before nap time.

Their claims are still being investigated and hence warrant no premature judgments, but one thing could not be clearer: toddlers need to be put under the care of qualified, compassionate preschool carers, and the latter remain in short supply.