China's Education Ministry on Wednesday warned kindergartens and schools and parents to be alert to the dangers of the summer rainy season and risks of natural disasters.

The ministry required schools to adjust class schedules and provide safe areas in the event of possible dangers.

Schools were advised to bring forward the summer vacation period if bad weather was forecast and to step up emergency and evacuation drills.

School authorities should enhance safety education and put up warning signs near risk areas such as pools and rivers.

On June 7, Guangdong Province's Jiangmen city, a 7-year-old boy drowned in a pool while swimming and on June 3, nine children drowned when they fell into a river while playing in Tangshan City, Hebei Province.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2009)