The Chinese government will extend its nine-year compulsory
education during the 11th five-year period for national economic
and social development (2006-2010), according to a guideline
approved in principle by the central government.
The priorities of education development set out in the guideline
include providing comprehensive education, extending compulsory
education in central and western regions, boosting vocational
education and improving the quality of higher education.
More financial support will be given to underdeveloped, rural,
border and ethnic regions, and the gap in education resources and
funds between regions and urban and rural areas will be narrowed,
an executive meeting of the State Council presided over by Premier
Wen Jiabao decided.
Measures will be taken to ensure the education of needy students
and to solve education issues of public concern, while teacher
training and school management will be improved.
Wednesday's executive meeting also approved in principle a
provisional regulation on the taxation of vehicles and ships, which
unifies and simplifies taxes imposed on the use of vehicles and
ships in China.
The regulation will be made public by the State Council after
further modification.
(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2006)