China kicked off a campaign to ensure safety in kindergartens and schools, following a series of attacks on students and fatal accidents that began in July.

The plan, which incorporates eight central departments, aims to comb out any "hidden troubles" menacing children's security in and around schools. It will clear up unqualified school teachers and workers and speed up criminal investigations on campuses.

The eight central departments are the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Health, State Administration for Industry and Commerce as well as State Press and Publication Administration.

The plan orders local governments to set up special work teams, which will clear out all Internet bars, bookstores, buffets, singing and dancing halls and game pubs nearby local schools and kindergartens.

They are also urged to check road security and maintain traffic order in area near campuses.

The work teams will also send officials from local fire control, health and construction departments to supervise fire prevention, food security, medical treatment and building security within campuses.

Unqualified teachers, administrative personnel, security guards and other workers in kindergartens and schools will be dismissed from their jobs. This is because many of the attacks on students were caused by staff with physical or mental problems.

Meanwhile, the campaign also set deadlines for solving the recent attack cases. Authorities suggest severe penalties for the perpetrators.

School attacks left bloody memories. In September, a man with a knife and homemade bombs attacked 28 children in a kindergarten of Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province. No one was killed.

In August, a janitor stabbed 15 children and three teachers at a Beijing kindergarten, killing one child.

Accidents also rang alarms. In August, a kindergarten building in central China's Henan Province collapsed, killing two children and leaving 28 others in hospital for further treatment and medical observation.

Also in Henan, a middle school classroom collapsed in July, leaving 20 students injured.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2004)