Headmasters sacked over child molestation scandal

Two headmasters and a deputy have been sacked from their posts over a child molestation scandal involving a teacher and his seven students in east China's Jiangxi Province, local government said Saturday. The headmaster of Jiuyuan Central Primary School and his deputy, as well as the head of Shangyuan Village Primary School were all dismissed, said the government of Ruichang City. Shangyuan Village Primary School is under the management of Jiuyuan Central Primary School. The county government would only give the family names of the headmasters and the deputy as Wan, Xiao and Wen, respectively, without further explaining the reason for doing so. Such practice was common among local governments in case of a scandal or crimes that involve officials. Between September 2012 and May 2013, Tao Biaogong, a 62-year-old agency teacher at the village primary school, sexually molested seven girls aged between eight and nine on numerous occasions in their classroom or Tao's restroom, said the government. Six of the pupils were infected with a venereal disease and are now being treated in hospital. Tao had been a licensed teacher but was dismissed due to family planning policy violations. Last year, he began his temporary teaching role at the school. Tao has been detained by police. A string of child molestation cases at campuses, mostly in primary and middle schools, have been exposed across the country this year, sparking concerns about the safety of students and calls for strict management of teaching staff.