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Smoking ban ensures air cleaner in China's schools
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It is World No-Tobacco day on Tuesday. Beijing authorities have vowed to forbid smoking in schools and universities. But, punitive measures have not yet been established. And that makes enforcing the regulations a tough task.
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Pupils of Hefei Province are taking part in activities to emphasize the harm of smoking. |
According to figures from the Beijing Disease Control Center, about 25 percent of middle school students have tried smoking; nearly 10 percent smoke as a habit; and about 40 percent of non-smoking students are exposed to second hand smoke.
"Many people smoke on campus especially in dormitories. Because it's hard to be caught by teachers in a dormitory," said a college student.
Schools in Beijing have been asked to forbid smoking in teaching areas by the end this year. Any school found violating the rule will be penalized up to five thousand yuan. But there's no punishment for individuals who break regulations.
"Apart from students, many people come to the campus, especially workers when there's construction in school. It's very hard to forbid them from smoking," said a college student.
That's what schools worry about.
"The most difficult part is that we are not entitled to punish, we can only dissuade," said Huang Yifang, secretary of Beijing Language and Culture University.
Experts suggest forbidding the sale of tobacco in shops and supermarkets near schools and promoting education on the result that smoking can cause.
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