(File Photo)

Any teacher caught assaulting, sexually harassing or abusing students in China will be banned for life, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Friday.

A moral criteria is highlighted in the newly released guidelines. Once misconduct is proven, the teachers will be fired, with their teaching qualification certifications withdrawn and vetoed on any other annual assessment, title evaluation, commendation and rewards.

They will also be added to the blacklist of the national teacher’s information system and prohibited from being hired by other schools for life. Any teacher caught engaging in inappropriate action involving a criminal offense will be transferred to the judicial organs as soon as possible, according to MOE. 

An accountability agenda was also introduced to punish schools who slack regulations and sanctions on such teachers.

The ministry issued a total of 10 codes to further promote professional teaching ethics in China, urging them to be patriotic, righteous, concentrated, caring, self-respecting, honest, clean-figured, self-disciplined and dedicated.