School officials removed for concealing sexual assault

The president and Party secretary of a primary school in Qingpu District were punished over concealing the fact that a student was sexually assaulted, according to Qingpu’s procuratorate on Wednesday.

Both were removed from their Party posts and received administrative dismissal, and their specialized technical posting grades were demoted recently, according to Qingpu’s procuratorate on Wednesday.

The move is the first of its kind in Shanghai after national authorities, including the high court and education ministry, released a new system in May this year to protect children, the procuratorate said.

Under the system, those working in schools, hospitals and other organizations related to minors have to notify police if they discover or suspect child abuse.

The procuratorate said the related officials at the primary school knew that a student had been sexually assaulted but didn't informed the police until the police received a report from the student’s parents.

To strengthen campus security and prevent sexual assault, the procuratorate has provided 10 lessons on legal education, including prevention of sexual assault, for schools, it said.

It added that each school in Qingpu has to establish a confidential reporting box for minors who suffer sexual assault.