University offers program on child care

SHANGHAI Open University has launched a child care program over the weekend with 385 “students” hailing from early education organizations, kindergartens, hospitals and infant food industry.

In the next four months, they will attend 152 classes on daily life care, health care and early education for young kids, and go through a psychological test for patience.

The training is being offered as demand for child care professionals for children below the age of 3 has been on the rise with the new two-child family planning policy.

A controversy at a day care center of online travel agency Ctrip where kids were found to have been abused sparked calls for child care professionals.

According to a survey by the city’s federation of trade union, Shanghai has about 800,000 children under the age of 3, with 30,000 added every year.

The university has integrated resources to develop the program with the aim of training at least 4,000 people this year. It said it had received more than 900 applications for the program before choosing 385 students.

“The popularity of the training program also reflects the high demand for professionals to care after children,” said Yuan Wen, the university president.