CCTV9英语新闻：Second child policy creates new challenges

Now for more on this, we are joined in the studio by CCTV's Jin Yingqiao.

 

Q1, Yingqiao, tell us more about what's being discussed about children and women this political season.

 

A1, Well, they are definitely hot topics during the two sessions. One NPC deputy acknowledged the difficulties women might face if they choose to bear a second child. He therefore proposed giving fathers longer paternity leave, and that the government should pay employer's compensation. He also thinks that the government should provide more daycare services... as the cost of some kindergartens are higher than even college. Another deputy pointed to the shortage of paediatricians. He says the standard should be two to three paediatricians to care for every 1000 children, but in China, there's only 1 paediatrician for every 2000 children. He called for more education efforts to attract paediatricians. And there's a proposal from 6 high school students from Xi'an, of course, submitted through a CPPCC member. After conducting surveys and studies, they called for more mother and baby rooms in public venues. So that women can breastfeed their baby at ease... On education, a deputy who is the head master of a well-known high school reacted to the buying frenzy of houses located near good schools, which gives children priority enrollment. One apartment was sold at over 400 thousand yuan per square meter. He suggests family education should comes first rather than buying such houses. And a university professor's proposal addresses the problem that rural areas lack good teachers. He called for the central government to allocate special funds to subsidize teachers in rural areas.