BEIJING, April 30 -- China's Ministry of Education on Thursday urged local educational authorities and schools to strengthen safety management to prevent children from drowning.

Local authorities were asked to check and clear risks around major water bodies. Warning signs must be set up around and security cordons or fences should be put in place, according to the ministry's statement.

Drownings have been increasing as summer comes. On Monday, six children in northeast China's Liaoning Province drowned while swimming in a pool. Earlier on April 13, three primary students drowned in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Schools were told to strengthen safety education. They must also report drowning incidents to authorities in a timely manner. Cover-ups will be punished, the ministry said.