Kindergartens To Report Absent Kids After 7 Days

The government has instructed all local kindergartens to inform the authorities immediately whenever any child has been absent for seven straight school days – in an effort to identify potential cases of child abuse.

According to the new guideline, even if a student is absent for fewer than seven days, teachers who see wounds or any signs of child abuse should inform the police and the Education Bureau. Irregular attendance should also be notified.

The new directive will come into effect on March 15.

Right now, kindergartens only have to alert the bureau when students haven't shown up for at least 30 days.

The hope is that abuse cases can be identified as early as possible, so authorities can intervene and stop the abuse. The bureau also says it hopes the shortened notification period will raise the level of alertness on the part of kindergarten personnel.

Parents and concern groups have been pressuring the government to tighten requirements on schools to report abuse, in the wake of the death of a five year-old girl last month who was allegedly abused by her father and stepmother.