New guidelines promote equality in education

BEIJING - The Chinese government issued a new guideline on Wednesday to improve school management and promote equality and academic independence.

The document published by the Ministry of Education asks schools to remove enrollment and education policies that discriminate against students and adopt effective measures to promote mutual respect between students and teachers, school administration and faculty as well as genders and different ethnic groups.

It also vows to provide equal education opportunities for disabled children.

School administrations should show full respect for, and protect the legal rights of, students and teachers, including their rights to be informed and to have their opinions heard through improved transparency in school affairs and the establishment of smooth communication channels, said the document.

The guideline also asks schools to protect the academic freedom of students and teachers within legal boundaries.

Schools should adopt a fair system for evaluating academic performance and effective measures to curb malpractice and dishonesty, the document said.

They should pay more attention to education and research and prevent bureaucracy from affecting academic work, it said.

The government will shift its focus from detailed daily management to supervision and policy making, according to the document.

The new guideline also asks all primary and middle schools to set up parent committees, aiming to not only improve communication but also allow parents to supervise schools.

The guideline aims to sharpen the management of primary and middle schools and universities, according to a press release from the ministry.

It will help push school administrations to regulate decision-making procedures, establish a risk control system and include students, teachers and parents in the administration and supervision of school affairs, the statement said.