by Chen Zhe

An unlicensed kindergarten in Beijing's Chaoyang District caught fire while its 10 students, aged between 2 and 5, were taking their afternoon nap. Nine were rescued, but a two-and-a�Chalf-year-old girl died on the scene from smoke inhalation.

An editorial in the Beijing News says these family-run kindergartens are very popular among migrant workers in big cities because they are much cheaper than public kindergartens. However, their hygiene and safety standards and education quality aren't regulated and are often lacking.

The author says the issue of educating migrant workers' children has long been a public concern. It is almost impossible for these children to enter the city's public schools because they lack the proper household registration, while tuition at private schools is usually too high.

The article says the government should set up standards to legalize the operation of these kindergartens to better control and supervise their operation. Kindergartens with safety risks should be shut down while more funding should be given to those that meet government qualifications.

It concludes that the government should take responsibility for building more schools for the children of migrant workers. It also calls for the public to do their part to support them.