Kindergartens in three Chinese provinces are accused of giving prescription drugs to children without their parents’ knowledge, according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency.

The drugs were given to prevent the children from getting sick in order to boost attendance, the news agency reported. The schools get paid based on attendance.

The scandal started last week in one kindergarten in the city of Xi’an and has now spread to several in the country, prompting China’s education and health ministries to require its local branches to check all kindergartens and primary schools for illegally administered drugs, according to the Global Times newspaper.

Almost 2,000 children who attended the suspected kindergartens are receiving medical attention as some reported side effects from the medication, such as dizziness, stomachaches, leg pains and genital swelling, Xinhua said.

Some angry parents of the affected kindergartens rallied in front of the facilities and local government buildings.

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