Since the eastern city of Jinan in Shandong Province adjusted its work hours, staff in government departments and public institutions only have one hour of lunch time. That's not enough for them to go back home to prepare a meal for their children. So students have turned to schools' or privately-run dining halls called "little dining tables". 
 
The Shungeng Primary School is one of those which offer lunch for their students. Headmaster Jia Xiaopeng says they can guarantee the kids a balanced diet:

"We have invited some nutritionists to draw up a menu for the whole semester. We'll cook for our students according to this menu."

And in something of a first for school food, the pupils aren't complaining:

"All the dishes here are very good. And some of them are my favorites."

"The teachers here are very kind, and the food is delicious. I like eating here."

 The schools can provide good food at the "little dining tables", but they can't provide a huge number of tables. So most of them only allow junior students to have lunch there. Many other schools haven't set up the tables because of the administration and personnel costs.

As a result, many private-run "little dining tables" have opened up near the school, some of which even provide students with rooms where they can have a nap.

Geng Xueping is in charge of the "little dining table" in the Shunyuan residential area near the Shungeng Primary School.

"I also have a child. Putting myself in other parents' shoes, I know I must guarantee the quality and hygienic standards of the food, to make the parents trust us to let their children have lunch here."

However, some of these private-run "little dining tables" don't have public health department permits. And some provide food in quantity without giving thought to its quality, resulting in many parents complaining that their children have gotten into bad, unhygienic habits when they have lunch outside school.

In light of these difficulties, some higher-income parents have rented apartments near the schools their children attend and hired housemaids to cook for them. But most parents can't afford that. The public is now appealing on the government to encourage schools to set up more "tables", and regulate the private-run "little dining tables". (CRI)