The "babysitter college" training program teaches childcare, early education, housekeeping, and other domestic skills. Photo: CFP
Editor's Note:
China's burgeoning middle class has boosted demand for domestic help in urban areas in recent years, and the need for qualified childcare is only expected to grow. On the back of this growth, “babysitter colleges” have opened across the country hoping to grab a piece of this booming market.
Chinese women training to be qualified nannies take part in a training exercise. Photo: CFP figcaption >
The eight-day course costs about 1,700 yuan ($247), and graduates are provided with a certificate to present to prospective employers. Photo: CFP figcaption >
Participants eat their lunch next to a line of dolls used for training during a break at the "babysitter college" on October 28, 2016 in Beijing. Photo: CFP figcaption >
Most of the women attending the program are migrants from other corners of China who have moved to the capital to earn income to support their own families back home. Photo: CFP figcaption >
Participants practice wrapping a baby in a blanket. Photo: CFP figcaption >
Many middle-class parents have cited a growing need for affordable quality childcare. Photo: CFP figcaption >
In cities such as Beijing and Tianjin, babysitters can command a monthly salary of between 4,000 and 10,000 yuan, with foreign employers offering even higher wages. Photo: CFP figcaption >