Law on school security urged
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Legislators and legal experts are pushing for a law on campus security to ensure the safety of students and teachers, following a string of school attacks that has caused nationwide concern.
Various central government departments and schools across the country have already boosted efforts to ensure campus safety, after at least eight children died in five cases in the past 40 days.
However, experts said it is urgent to continue pushing for a mechanism through legislation to authorize and standardize campus security measures, instead of just a campaign to beef up security.
In 2005, Zhou Hongyu, vice-chairman of the standing committee of the people's congress in Hubei province, already suggested that a law on campus security be put on legislature agenda. But the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, delayed the proposal after studying it because too many factors have to be included to make such a law, Zhou said.
"It is not enough to just remind schools, parents, and children to be alert for potential dangers to their safety. We need a law to solve the problem at the root," he said.
More than 700 NPC deputies started submitting similar proposals on making campus security law as early as 1999.
"Although there are separate laws dealing with student protection, there is no clear division of work and responsibilities of different departments, particularly between the education and police departments," said Zong Chunshan, a lawyer specializing in teenagers' rights.
Zong said a new law should clarify responsibilities for each department involved in campus security and establish an accountability system, so that related authorities will attach enough importance to the issue.
Current legislation dealing with the protection of students include the Constitution, the Criminal Law and Law on Protection of Minors, which mostly define crimes and spell out dealing with violations on campus. But they are considered to have few specific stipulations on prevention, as well as who should ensure campus security and how it should be implemented.
"The educational department itself cannot ensure security within and around the campus. It needs more police officers to prevent such tragedies," said Tong Lihua, a lawyer in Beijing.
Other experts also said it is most urgent for all education departments to conduct training to deal with emergencies.
"Prevention is the most important. It's always too late once such tragedies occur," said Wang Dawei, an academic with the Chinese People's Public Security University.
"The Ministry of Education should stipulate that every student in school be educated on safety and prevention every semester," he said.
Campus security measures are being stepped up in the wake violent attacks that took place at schools or kindergartens since March 23, which killed at least eight children and injured 58 others.
