Wen urges more equality in education resources

PREMIER Wen Jiabao has called for reform and more equality in basic education services.

By last year, China had popularized the nine-year compulsory education among the entire population and almost eliminated illiteracy among the young and middle-aged population, he said.

Wen said the government should provide higher-quality education services and narrow distribution gaps that have caused many schools, especially in rural areas, to suffer from a lack of both qualified personnel and facilities.

Although most Chinese students are required to enroll in schools near their homes, some parents pay large sums of money to enroll their children in schools farther away, leading to complaints about unequal access to education.

Wen blamed the phenomenon on the uneven distribution of education resources.

"Due to differences in economic and social development levels, inequality in compulsory education will not be eliminated in a short time. But the objective of promoting equality will not be shaken," he said.

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