Compulsory Education Made Available to 80% of China's Population

Reliable sources from the Ministry of Education indicate that 80% of populated areas in China by the end of 1999 has met two basic requirements, namely, nine-year compulsory education basically popularized; adulthood illiteracy basically wiped out.

Statistics show that with 188 counties (cities and districts) that had met the two said basic requirements in 1998 there were as many as 2,430 of these involving 80% of the whole Chinese population having achieved the goals set for developing compulsory education in China by the end of 1999. According to plans, the figure is going to be raised to 85% this year; primary compulsory education is demanded to cover 3.2% of local population in areas failing in meeting the two basic objectives set.

China has been now in the third stage that nine-year compulsory education is going to be developed in its underdeveloped central western region known for a weak foundation in developing education, hard to achieve the goals set. This calls for new efforts and measures as are now being made by local government departments related in those areas following the goals set by the Ministry of Education in developing nine-year compulsory education throughout China.

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