Parents in shock over kindergarten closure

More than 400 pre-school children in Haidian district will have nowhere to go after their kindergarten announced it will close from January 1 for a two-year reconstruction project.

The kindergarten management sent a letter to parents on October 19, saying that as the kindergarten, which has been operating for 53 years, could not meet the requirements in anti-earthquake and fire safety, it would be closed for reinforcement and reconstruction, a parent told the Global Times Thursday.

The letter, which was posted on a Sina microblog by a parent, did not mention if there would be any arrangements made for the future care of the children.

Feng Digang, whose 4-year-old son attends the Kindergarten Affiliated to the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, told the Global Times Thursday that since the kindergarten has left the problem to parents, he has had to look for another nearby preschool when he should be at work.

Feng said he has communicated with at least eight private kindergartens and two public ones in the district, but tuition fees for the private ones are nearly three times higher, while the two public ones said they have no more space.

Some other parents told the Beijing News that the notice from the kindergarten was too unexpected and was a shock to them. It had taken a lot of effort and they had resorted to calling in many favors to get their children admitted to the kindergarten, they said.

The kindergarten is quite cheap and has high standards, said Feng.

"My parents are retired employees from the academy, so my son has advantages in entering the kindergarten. But it still took me at least three months to finally get him admitted," said Feng.

According to Feng, many parents hope the kindergarten can postpone the closure date or find a transitional place nearby to move all the children and teachers there.

A teacher at the kindergarten, surnamed Yang, confirmed that the parents were suggested to find a kindergarten for their own children but said she is still collecting and delivering parents' opinions to the academy, and will then wait for its response.

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