All Chinese schoolchildren to be tested for drugs after kindergartens are caught giving them medication 'to improve attendance'

• China's education ministry orders nationwide investigation into issue
• Follows protest by parents of kindergarteners who were given drugs
  
• Children at schools in Xi'an allegedly given moroxydine hydrochloride
• Police: Schools wanted to improve attendance rates and their incomes
  

By MARK DUELL

PUBLISHED: 08:01 GMT, 20 March 2014 | UPDATED: 08:21 GMT, 20 March 2014

Up to 170million children in China will undergo drug tests, after it was revealed hundreds of pupils were secretly being given antiviral medication by their schools.

China's education ministry has ordered a nationwide investigation into the issue after a demonstration by parents of kindergarteners who were given the drugs.

The probe comes a week after an angry protest by parents whose children were allegedly given moroxydine hydrochloride - a drug invented in the 1950s to halt the spread of flu - in Xi'an city.

Some children suffered stomach pain, dizziness and other symptoms but authorities say it is unclear whether it was linked to the drug.

Police in Xi'an said two kindergartens gave children the medication to improve attendance rates and boost their incomes.

FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2585019/All-Chinese-schoolc...