Nationwide inspection of nurseries after abuse reports in Beijing

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Chinese authorities ordered Friday a nationwide inspection of kindergartens following shocking reports of child abuse at a nursery in Beijing.

A statement by the Chinese Ministry of Education said the inspection will focus on assessing teachers' behavior and aims at strengthening preschools' emergency response mechanism.

Earlier this week, private nursery RYB Education New World Kindergarten was accused of child abuse after chilling allegations surfaced of kids in their care being injected with needles, given unidentified medication and sexually assaulted.

The news sent shock waves through the country as it came on the heels of an equally disturbing scandal at a day-care facility in Shanghai where kids no older than two years were beaten, mistreated, and force-fed wasabi.

Amid the public furor, online reports emerged claiming that the childcare center in the capital is owned by members of a Beijing-based brigade with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) – allegations that prompted a response from the Chinese military.

“An investigation was carried out. Neither army personnel nor their relatives were found to be holding managerial positions at the kindergarten. The army does not own the land,” Feng Junfeng, the political commissar of the "laohu" unit with the PLA Beijing garrison told the PLA Daily.

He added that none of the unit's troops has children attending the childcare center.

Feng said they will continue with the official inquiry and cooperate with local authorities if necessary.

"We do not tolerate the behavior of any army personnel involved in criminal activities. Those responsible shall be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law," Feng told PLA Daily.

The Beijing nursery is run by RYB Education, a Chinese education group established in 1998 and listed on the New York stock exchange since September this year. It describes itself as the country's largest early childhood education service provider.