China to strengthen measures against misconduct in education, enhance equity: education minister

China will implement stronger measures to tackle misconduct in education, including excessive tutoring and school bullying, as part of efforts to create a safe campus environment for students, according to Huai Jinpeng, the minister of education.

The country will also continue to address irregularities in campus canteen operations and the selection of teaching materials, Huai said on Saturday at a news conference during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

The Ministry of Education will collaborate with public security, health, and market regulation authorities to handle misconduct with stricter measures. "We will address any violations immediately as they emerge and resolutely prevent any resurgence of problems," Huai said.

In response to changes in the school-age population at different educational stages, China has strengthened forward-looking research and established a national monitoring system to optimize the allocation of educational resources, he noted. "We will focus on increasing the supply of school places in towns and cities with a large inflow of people and in areas with weak educational foundations."

The country will adjust educational resources across different schooling stages based on local conditions and support pilot programs for small-class teaching in areas with the necessary conditions, he said.

China will expand the implementation of the silver age program, which recruits retired teachers to support rural education, and improve boarding schools in townships and small rural schools as needed, he added.

Regarding education equity, Huai said the government will increase the supply of public preschools and continue to promote the revitalization of county high schools. Authorities will also continue efforts to ensure fair school admissions, providing equal educational opportunities for migrant children, left-behind children, and children with disabilities, he said.