School Safety call

The Ministry of Education has issued a circular to urge school safety.

The circular was issued on Tuesday after several attacks and accidents took place this month, including a van crash in east China which killed 11 kindergarten students.

PKG

The ministry called on educational departments at all levels to put students' safety at the first place and take measures to avoid accidents.

It called for more cooperation with relevant organs to scrutinize road situation and forbid disqualified vehicles to pick up students

The ministry also stressed to strengthen the guards of schools, prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in burning coals for warmth and keep children away from iced lakes.

China has seen several attacks and school bus accidents this year.

The latest one was a man drove into a group of students Monday in north China's Hebei Province.

Thirteen of the 23 students from a local middle school were hit and are now in hospital.

An initial probe found the man had a gas tank and firecrackers stored in the car.

The man allegedly attempted to set off an explosion after hitting the students.

And on the same day, a minivan carrying 15 kindergarten students and one teacher plunged into a roadside pond in east China's Jiangxi Province...

Three children died at the scene, while another eight died at a local hospital...

...Only four survived.

Now, 12 local officials, including a vice mayor, have suspended from work.

A string of school bus accidents occurred in China recent years have raised public concerns over school bus safety.

In August, the Ministry of Education issued a circular urging local governments to establish a school bus safety management system, set a reasonable transition period and make detailed provisions in terms of school bus permissions, school bus drivers' qualifications and legal responsibilities.