Chinese state councilor stresses education equality, quality

BEIJING, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- State Councilor Liu Yandong on Friday called for deepened reform to promote educational equality, as well as overall improvement in the quality of education.

Liu stressed efforts to integrate the socialist core value system into national education, find new ways to cultivate talent and upgrade the country's education quality evaluation system.

"Achievements should be made in reforming focal areas and key links, including enrollment and examination systems, school management and operation mechanisms," Liu said at a national meeting on education.

Urging greater government funding and support for education, Liu said authorities should ensure that fiscal expenditure on education accounts for 4 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012.