(ECNS) -- Parents and guardians of "left-behind" children in rural areas will be held responsible for breach of duty, according to a senior official with the Ministry of Education.
Liu Limin, deputy minister of education, said during a press conference on Tuesday that the State Council, China's cabinet, issued two documents focusing on education and care for children in rural areas in February.
In addition to requiring local governments and schools to fulfill their responsibilities on left-behind children, both opinions emphasized the responsibilities of families and the children's guardians.
Illegal actions that infringe on the rights of left-behind children should be punished according to the law, Liu added.
Liu also said it is important to strengthen legislation, security awareness and psychological health education in rural areas. Parents are encouraged to take their children to live with them in big cities after getting residence permits.
About 3.4 percent of the country's 60 million children in rural areas are considered part of the left behind group, according to figures from the All-China Women's Federation in 2013.
The society will set up a care system for left-behind children to avoid violation of their rights and to ensure their healthy development, Liu said.
