THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS RESPONDED TO two recent incidents of college teachers sexually harassing students by saying it has a "zero tolerance" policy toward such teachers. China Daily writer Wang Yiqing comments:

Teaching is a noble profession; teachers play a great role in inheriting human civilization. So teachers' professional ethics should be higher than that in many other professions.

Though sexual harassment cases are on the rise in colleges, most students are afraid to report it to higher authorities.

One should take into account the power equation between teachers and students. The harassers tend to threaten the victims with their academic powers. The victims are thus blackmailed into offering sexual favors. They give in to sexual harassment because teachers threaten to not let them pass if they complain to anybody.

Sometimes, when the victims report against the offending teachers, the latter seek refuge under the excuse of "romantic relationship" in a bid to change the nature of the incidents.

Existing regulations on teachers' professional ethics prohibit them from having improper relationships with their students. But the description of "improper relationship" is so vague that the so-called "romantic relationship" excuse always comes to the aid of the wrongdoers.

To say the least, even if the romantic relationship is not "improper", it may give rise to doubts about academic fairness and undermine other students' interests in studies because of perceived or real bias.

That is the reason why in many foreign colleges, teachers have been prohibited from having romantic relationships with their students if a power or interest relationship exists between them.

Education authorities in China should consider issuing more strict regulations on the relationship between students and teachers to create a healthy campus environment and safeguard the students' legitimate rights and interests.