Police officers teach primary school students how to use a fire extinguisher. [Photo/IC]

About 7,000 primary and secondary schools in East China's Jiangsu province have employed law enforcement officers as vice-principals to date, according to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education.

The move to do so is in compliance with a guideline recently released by the Ministry of Education that mandates the presence of at least one part-time legal vice-principle in schools to deal with law-related affairs. This new regulation will take effect on May 1.

According to an official with the Jiangsu education department, the province started such a practice many years ago and 97 percent of its primary and secondary schools already had a legal vice-principal or guidance counselors by the end of 2003.

Legal vice-principals are responsible for making legal education plans, giving legal courses, handling school bullying issues, protecting the rights and interests of teachers and students, as well as ensuring a safe environment, said the official.

The Nanjing Youfuxijie Primary School in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, had hired police officers as vice-principals before 2000. Si Henggui, a senior officer at the Huaihai Road police station, has served at the primary school for more than eight years. His responsibilities include giving safety education, popularizing legal knowledge, and settling disputes between students and parents.