The Ministry of Education (MOE) will deepen education reforms in 2000, Minister of Education Chen Zhili said on December 6 at a national working conference on education in the coming century.

Chen said that the CPC central committee and the State Council convened a national education working conference this June and issued a series of policies on the country's education work. All provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have worked out important policies and regulations, she said.

She also analyzed the present education situation and challenges. In 2000, Chen said, the following work needs to be done: Educational departments should strengthen moral education aiming at nurturing students' creative spirit and practical ability; emphasis should continue on the nine-year compulsory education and elimination of illiteracy among young people; local governments should plan the enrollment work for senior high schools and higher education; reform of university services should be pushed; and, education should be modernized. (Xinhua)