Kindergarten deaths caused by rat poison-laced food handed out by student

Yet more controversy has emerged for China's schools after it was revealed that rat poison caused the food poisoning which killed two children at a kindergarten in Yunnan Province.

Yang Ziyi, 4, and Zhou Yulin, 5, died after eating banned neurotoxic rat poison at Jiajia Kindergarten. Of the 32 children hospitalised, 5 remain in critical condition. Authorities say that the food was brought to the school by another student who shared their snacks amongst pupils. "Specimen checks show that school meals are safe," said Zhao Minjan, head of media communications with Qiubei County Government.

According to Li Honglin, deputy director of the Qiubei Department of Publicity "the county government has organized an investigation team, comprising education authorities and police officers, to investigate the case".

The incident follows outrage from parents after four schools fed their pupils illegal prescription drugs in order to boost performance, leading to the government promising a thorough "blanket inspection" of all Chinese schools to take effect immediately.

[Image via Flickr]