Some 220 million primary and middle school students across the country stepped into their campuses for a new semester on Wednesday amid heavy security.

The move to beef up security in Chinese schools came after the nation was rocked by six bloody attacks on students within a span of three months earlier this year.

In Shanghai, all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools are required to hire at least two professional security guards for the new semester.

In addition, surveillance systems and protective devices had already been set up in schools and kindergartens across the city before the new semester opened.

"In a bid to ensure the safety of students, public security and education departments have joined hands and will regularly inspect the security facilities in schools and kindergartens," said Yang Yongming, an official from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

"All visitors must show their identity cards and register at the entrance before entering any school," said a teacher at the Xingfu Road Primary School.

"We will refuse admission to those who seem suspicious and then contact the police," he said.

Similar moves have been carried out in schools and kindergartens all over the country following a national call to ensure campus security for the new semester.

The first priority for all schools in China should be the safety of their students, Chen Xiaoya, vice-minister of education, said at a meeting last weekend.

Any loopholes in campus security should be blocked immediately and all primary and secondary schools, and kindergartens should have security personnel as soon as possible, the Xinhua News Agency quoted Chen as having said.

In Beijing, about 2,000 specially trained security guards have been deployed to secure more than 500 kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools.

The uniformed security guards, sporting helmets and knife-proof vests with cut-proof gloves and a rubber baton, are required to patrol the area surrounding the schools for an hour each before school opens and closes.

In Guangzhou, education authorities have vowed to intensify education on security and self-protection, a measure to improve the awareness of safety among both students and teachers.

"The security in Guangzhou schools has never been so heavy before. Unlike the past, parents can no longer enter and exit the school at will," a mother, surnamed Xiao, said.

In Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, more than 45,000 policemen and security guards have been assigned duties at all schools in its 42 districts and counties, local media reported.

The city has also planned a budget of 1.2 billion yuan (US$176 million) to establish a protection system and increase campus security facilities.

In Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, a special safety inspection team, comprising of a police officer, security guards, teachers and students' parents, was established before the new semester kicked off.

According to the local media, the team will patrol the school and the surrounding area throughout the day.

(China Daily September 2, 2010)