Soochow University in east China's Jiangsu Province has granted maternity leave
to legally married pregnant students, bringing college regulations
further in line with the new Marriage Law, nen.com.cn reported
yesterday.
The Ministry of Education lifted the ban on college students
getting married on March 29, 2005. This releases students of legal
age from needing university permission before tying the knot.
According to Soochow University's new regulations, married student
mothers can file maternity leave applications and resume their
studies after the baby's birth. In the past, pregnant women were
not permitted from attending university.
The green light on maternity leave lit up other disputes, among
which whether the expense of giving birth should be covered by
campus medicare.
The education authorities in Jiangsu Province believe that more
questions concerning related topics, such as marriage leave and the
hukou -- a registered permanent residence -- for
campus-born babies, will follow.
On March 24, 2005, Wang Hongjie was married on campus and was
expelled from Mudanjiang Medical College for pregnancy shortly
before her graduation. Wang filed a lawsuit against the college and
resumed her studies after reconciliation was reached on February 27
last year.
(China Daily January 9, 2007)