Chinese lawmakers are considering a draft Preschool Education Law that stipulates better protection of the rights and interests of preschool children.
The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, started its 12th session in Beijing on Monday, and the third draft of the Preschool Education Law was submitted on the same day to the session. The draft proposes to add the following provisions: establish and improve a preschool education guarantee mechanism to reduce the cost of family childcare education; relevant departments of the people's government at or above the county level should strengthen food safety supervision in kindergartens; strengthen safety management and patrol and control work in the vicinity of kindergartens.
"Some members of the Standing Committee suggested strengthening the protection of preschool children's reputation, privacy and other legal rights and interests. After research, it was suggested to add the following provisions: The reputation, privacy and other legal rights and interests of preschool children are protected by law and no unit or individual may infringe upon them; kindergartens and other units and individuals shall obtain the consent of their parents or other guardians and comply with relevant laws and regulations when collecting, using, providing, disclosing or otherwise processing the personal information of preschool children; news reports involving preschool children should be objective, prudent and appropriate," said Xu Hui, vice chairman of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee.
The draft also specifies three situations in which kindergarten teachers or other staff will be punished for mistreating children: Physical punishment or disguised corporal punishment of children; Discrimination, insult, abuse, or sexual assault on children; Violation of professional ethics or causing damage to children's physical and mental health, resulting in adverse consequences.
Chinese lawmakers deliberate draft to strengthen rights, interests protection of preschool children
Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation announced on Monday that it plans to invite 40 faculty members and students from seven mainland universities to visit the island, following a successful visit of mainland college students in 2023.
According to Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the foundation, the visit is scheduled to take place from Nov 27 for nine days and eight nights. The mainland students and teachers will be from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhejiang University, Fujian Normal University and Beijing Sport University. The students will include Olympic champions, table tennis gold medalist Ma Long from Beijing Sport University, and shooting gold medalist Yang Qian from Tsinghua University.
They will visit six universities in Taiwan, including Taiwan University, Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Chengchi University, Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, and Chang Gung University, as well as the Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School, Hsiao added.
"This time, we have also invited Olympic men's table tennis champion Ma Long, who is popular on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as Olympic women's shooting champion Yang Qian. I hope they will interact and exchange with students in Taiwan during the nine-day and eight-night visit," said Hsiao.
Hsiao also said that the foundation will submit applications to relevant authorities and hopes for swift approval to facilitate the visit.
"Without exchanges at various levels, there will be fewer opportunities for mutual understanding between the two sides of the Strait, which could result in unnecessary misunderstandings. We urge the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to be more confident and open, rather than retrogressing and isolating both sides of the Strait through political maneuvering," said the executive director.
In addition, the itinerary will also include visits to scenic spots such as Sun Moon Lake so that mainland students will have an in-depth understanding of Taiwan's history and natural beauty. The foundation will also arrange baseball experience activities for mainland visitors, allowing them to engage firsthand with Taiwan's popular baseball culture.
This is the second such visit planned by the foundation. In 2023, faculty members and students from five mainland universities were warmly received across Taiwan, positively impacting cross-Strait relations.
In 2023 and 2024, Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, also led youth groups from Taiwan on visits to the mainland.
Ma Ying-jeou foundation invites mainland college students to visit Taiwan
