Beijing court calls for better protection of preschoolers

Beijing judges have urged kindergartens to improve the supervision of children during outdoor activities to prevent injuries and strengthen the protection of children's personal information and campus safety.

The recommendation was made by the Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court on Friday, just ahead of the first anniversary of the implementation of the Preschool Education Law and International Children's Day, both of which fall on Monday.

The court cited the law as underscoring the principle of acting "in the best interests of preschool children" and providing a legal framework for their healthy development. However, it noted that incidents involving physical harm to kindergarten children, unauthorized intrusions and leaks of personal information still occur frequently.

Some kindergartens show serious deficiencies in safety management during outdoor activities or classroom games. A few teachers fail to promptly intervene in dangerous situations involving children, and there is often a lack of knowledge about physical fitness or safety education, leading to management oversights, the court said.

For instance, in one case, a preschooler surnamed Li was playing outdoors by sitting inside a tire on a roller and fell, resulting in an ulna fracture. Following an investigation, teachers were found to have failed to effectively supervise the child's outdoor activities and fulfill their management responsibilities. Consequently, the kindergarten was held liable for Li's injury and ordered to compensate the child more than 14,000 yuan ($2,067).

Additionally, the law stresses the importance of safeguarding preschool children's personal data, clarifying that their reputation and privacy rights must not be violated. It mandates that kindergarten staff obtain permission from children's parents or guardians when handling personal information.

However, the court said some kindergartens had been found to disclose information about children with physical or mental challenges on their official WeChat accounts. "This not only infringes on the children's personal rights but also exacerbates the difficulties faced by these children in gaining school admission," it explained.

The court called on kindergartens to establish comprehensive systems to ensure the safety of children during outdoor activities, requiring teachers to strengthen supervision and promptly address safety risks by repairing facilities.

Furthermore, it advised kindergartens against releasing children's personal information in WeChat groups and on other online platforms, emphasizing that the processing and use of such data must be authorized by the children's parents or guardians.