Children returning to Beijing kindergarten at center of abuse scandal

World Today

A woman leaves with a child after telling the media she came to withdraw the child from the RYB kindergarten in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Chinese authorities are investigating allegations that children attending the RYB kindergarten in Beijing run by a U.S.-listed company have been abused and molested. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A Beijing kindergarten at the center of child abuse allegations is returning to normal operations. Many parents have sent their children back after a long weekend, but concerns remain. The school is part of China’s largest preschool chains, which is accused of abusing and drugging children.

CGTN’s Zheng Yibing reports.

It’s been five days since the child abuse allegations first emerged at RYB Kindergarten.

Many children have returned to the school in eastern Beijing, where kindergarten officials promised to cooperate with the police and reshuffled teachers with what they call the “elite team.”

Most parents refuse to speak out because of privacy concerns. Those who do, however, have differing opinions.

Some who are willing to talk think their children’s teachers are nice, and the alleged abuse is an isolated case.

“I don’t believe the whole thing, but some individuals might do the wrong things,” one parent said.

Others said the allegations cannot be groundless.

As the fallout continues, more parents are demanding a better environment for their children. The Beijing Municipal Education Commission responded with what it said are safety checks, with kindergartens ordered to make immediate corrections to any problems.