The scandal of two private kindergartens in Xi'an, which administered antiviral drugs to the children in their care without the parents knowing, is just the latest in a string of cases that have tainted the country's education system, says a Xinhua commentary.

Five suspects arrested by the police on charges of medical malpractice, including the principal and doctor of one kindergarten and the vice-principal and doctor of the other, admitted administering antiviral drugs to the children to help prevent them from catching cold and build up their immunity to disease.

While the Shaanxi education and health departments issued an emergency order banning the unauthorized administration of prescription medicines, these two kindergartens are unlikely to be the only ones adopting such a dangerous practice, as many private kindergartens promise to refund tuition fees for days when a child does not attend due to illness.