Drowning has become the No. 1 cause of accidental death of kindergarten, primary and middle school students this year, according to a report from the Ministry of Education.

As of Monday, 85 children had died in 33 accidents, a sharp increase compared to last year's 18 deaths.

Road accidents, the top killer in 2004 and second killer last year, remains the second biggest cause of death, killing 51 and injuring 126.

Natural disasters, last year's top killer claiming 105 lives, drops to the fourth this year, said the report released yesterday.

Nationwide, a total of 188 students have lost their lives and 1,266 been injured so far, already up from last year's death toll of 178, but lower than 2004's 231.

Zheng Zengyi, deputy director of the ministry's elementary education department, attributed the sharp increase in drowning deaths to this year's hot weather.

He said after a ministry press briefing yesterday that very few students drowned in swimming pools, but "because hot weather hit most of China this summer, many students, especially those in rural areas, swam in lakes, rivers and reservoirs where no lifesaving facilities exists."

On July 11, five primary school children died in a river in Gaochao Village, Jinyun County in east China's Zhejiang Province, Xinhua News Agency reported

He said students' lack of safety education is another factor.

"We've urged schools nationwide to strictly follow the newly implemented School Safety Regulation," Zheng said.

The regulation, which took effect on September 1, clearly spells out that kindergarten, primary and middle schools nationwide should offer students safety education on swimming in lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

The regulation also bans students from physical training, such as morning exercises, on streets or major roads so as to avoid possible accidents.

Public security and traffic departments should mark crossings at school gates and set up traffic signs, traffic lights and pedestrian overpasses if necessary.

Jointly issued by 10 ministries including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Health, the regulation is the first of its kind since 1949.

"The regulation stipulates specific requirements for all departments concerned," said Wang Xuming, spokesman of the Ministry of Education. "We're expecting a decline in student casualties after the regulation is implemented."

Other measures include: health departments should regularly check food and water quality in schools; drills should be conducted at least once a term teaching students how to survive in fires, floods or earthquakes; and Internet cafes should be located at least 200 metres away from schools.

School principals who violate the regulation will receive disciplinary punishment or face prosecution for major accidents, according to the regulation.

(China Daily September 14, 2006)