[photopress:pregnant_Chinese_student.jpg,full,alignright]A government circular states Chinese universities are not allowed to expel pregnant students, but have to help settle residential registration for students’ babies.
The circular advised female students to ‘temporarily suspend schooling during childbearing period’ in order to ‘ensure the health of mother and child’.
The circular was jointly released by the National Population and Family Planning Commission and ministries of education and public security. It clarified procedures for students’ new-born babies.
Student couples can register babies with the residence of grandparents and re-register them with their own residence after graduation. College students can look after babies at school.
College students in China usually have temporary school residence before graduation and employment that decides their final residence.
The Ministry of Education lifted the ban of marriage and childbearing in universities on October 1, 2003. However, the regulations were not spelled out.
Teachers and parents still discourage students from marriage before graduation, as most students are not financially prepared to simultaneously handle study, marriage and babies. But at least the official position is now clear.
Source: China View