Illegal kindergartens still rife in Fengxian district despite crackdown

• Source: Global Times
• [08:59 August 11 2010]
• Comments

Kids at a kindergarten for the offspring of migrant workers follow their teacher in a physical education class. Photo: IC

By Liu Dong

Authorities in Fengxian district have failed to make good on a pledge to shut some 90 unlicensed kindergartens by the end of the summer holidays, and are now looking to give the kindergartens licenses rather than turf the children in their care out on the streets.

Wu Xiaoli, a migrant worker and mother of a 3-year-old boy who goes to the unlicensed Jinghui Kindergarten in the district, Tuesday told the Global Times that the kindergarten charges around 300 yuan ($44.3) per month. "It is far cheaper than licensed kindergartens, and in a more convenient location for me," she said.

Last July, Fengxian district announced it would clamp down on the growing number of unlicensed kindergartens, and that all would be closed by the end of August this year.

However, users of an Internet forum Tuesday reported that the majority of the kindergartens have avoided being shut down. They claimed most are in residences or spare storage rooms in factories, and have sub-standard teaching methods.

"We are aware of the problem and are working hard to solve it, but it will take time," Zhang Peiliang, director of the pre-school education department of Fengxian Education Bureau, told the Global Times Tuesday. "We need time to build more qualified kindergartens. But if we closed all those underground kindergartens immediately, where will the children who attend them go in this hot weather? On the streets?"

Zhang said the rising number of unlicensed kindergartens is due to the rapid development of Fengxian district in recent years, which has attracted more and more migrant workers in need of cheap childcare facilities. He said the children of migrant workers now account for 53 percent of all pre-school children in the district.

The local education authority has closed 25 illegal kindergartens since the beginning of the year, and plans to close 20 more by the end of the month. Efforts will also be made to grant licenses to unqualified kindergartens, while temporary care centers for children will also be opened.

Fengxian district also plans to build 10 new private kindergartens.