Geng Xuechao, head of the municipal commission of education, said the move was designed to narrow the gap between rural and urban education to achieve balanced educational development across the whole city.

There are 2,280 primary and middle schools in Beijing's 14 rural and suburban districts and counties, which account for 87 percent of the city's total. Students at these schools make up 81 percent of the city's total.

While launching the project to modernize primary and middle schools in rural areas, the commission would also allow the closure or merger of about 100 small and poorly-performing rural schools this year, the official said.

Meanwhile, the city has also launched another schooling program under which compulsory education students from impoverished rural and urban households will be exempted from paying textbook fees and students at boarding schools for special education will enjoy improved living standards as well as exemptions from accommodation fees. So far, 9,300 students have benefited from the program.

Other measures, such as encouraging top teachers to coach teaching staff in rural schools and encouraging college graduates to be teachers at rural schools, plus organizing 100 downtown schools to help rural schools, will also be introduced to help raise the quality of rural education, according to Geng.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2003)