China removes 'wide beds' in rural dorms in educational efforts

BEIJING - China will improve education quality and facilities in rural schools, with measures to reduce class sizes and ban overcrowding in dormitories.

Areas for improvement include teaching quality and materials across all rural areas, while in the less-developed central and western regions school dinners and central heating would also be prioritized, according to a document released Wednesday after a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang.

Some rural schools have classes of nearly 100 students due to inadequate facilities and a lack of teachers. Moreover, some dormitories of "living-room size" may be shared by as many as 30 pupils.

The practice of dozens to a long bed at boarding schools should be eliminated, the document said, adding that by 2018, there should be no super-size classes.

The document promised to expand the nutrition improvement program, to train more teachers and build more high schools equipped with Internet.

Improving education for people in China's poorest areas is part of the country's wider poverty relief campaign.

The central government will abolish high school tuition fees for poor students, and "gradually" waiver tuition fees for secondary vocational students. By 2020, the high school gross enrollment rate is expected to reach 90 percent.

More quality colleges will be built in central and west regions, and more poor rural students will be enrolled, according to the document.

Improved bilingual education for ethnic minorities and a higher rate of enrollment of the disabled were also championed in the document.

In addition, authorities discussed the role that cultural resources play in education, which will help develop creative thinking and skills.