Regular classes for sick children in pediatric hospitals are to organized by the Shanghai Education Commission to ensure they don't miss too much school while receiving medical treatment.

The plan came after Zheng Shan, a doctor with Fudan University's Children's Hospital, put forward a proposal at the ongoing Shanghai People's Congress plenary meeting. The doctor pointed out that sick children were neglected and excluded from the education system.

 

The proposal was immediately approved by Shen Xiaoming, the commission's director, who's a pediatrician himself. He said that the commission would allocate funds from the education budget to set up "hospital schools" and professional teachers would give classes in wards.

 

The commission will also provide 'at-home' education for 812 handicapped children who can't attend school this year. Details of that program have yet to be announced.

 

Zheng said hospitals had many children who stayed in wards for lengthy serious illness treatment. A kidney complaint could require a hospital stay ranging from six months to three years.

 

The poor health of these children prevented them from attending school. Without classes in hospital youngsters spend much of their time watching TV and playing games.

 

"I'm just concerned about how they can make a living in the future if they have no vocational skills at all," Zheng said.

 

Shanghai Children's Medical Center invited volunteer teachers to work with young patients in 1998. The heavy workload involved in running such classes prevented both volunteers and the hospital from continuing with the scheme.

 

(Shanghai Daily February 2, 2007)