Nannies, or ayis, are undergoing professional training and soon will be able to present their certificates to foreign and Chinese families, and local nurseries - and speak a little English.

Shanghai's trained nanny graduates, about 50, will take their licensing exam next week and those who pass will begin their careers helping families or working in infant care centers.

Trainees are mainly experienced domestic helpers, kindergarten teachers and nurses. Courses include child care and nursing skills, children's psychological guidance, health protection and massage to enhance physical and brain development.

The trainees are mainly experienced domestic helpers, kindergarten teachers and nurses. Courses include child care and nursing skills, children's psychological guidance, health protection and massage to enhance physical and brain development. The shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau will conduct the exams.

Prosecutors recently warned families, including foreigners, that an increasing number of nannies or ayis have committed theft.

They urge employers to hire from reputable agencies, not from the word of mouth of their friends. The nanny training facility, the vocational center of east China Normal University, said it is discussing with local education and labor authorities the possibility of graduate-nanny care for infants and toddlers at child care centers.

The center also teaches basic English for nannies working in overseas family. It plans to train 1,000 licensed nannies in one to two years to meet the demands for high-qualified professionals in infant care.

The minimum cost is expected to be 3,000 yuan (US$370) per month. Pilot projects for newly minted nannies are to be launched in Pudong New Area.

Nursery care is new in the city where kindergartens only admit children at least 2 years old. However, many working families desperately need quality child care.

"More mothers are eager to resume their busy work and are not willing to hire a migrant domestic helper to take care of their child, so we decided to introduce this child care option from Taiwan," said Zeng Qi, an official at the vocational center. "After childbirth, I may only rest at home for three months and then go back to work. I desperately need a professional nanny or a regular nursery," said Zhang Li.

(Shanghai Daily November 4, 2005)