HEFEI?- Recruiting eligible nursery teachers from the general public is one of the measures aimed at improving preschool education in Hefei city, capital of East China's Anhui province.

A total of 124 nursery school teachers were recruited by the end of 2011, the first time public kindergartens opened the door to society since 1996, according to an official from the Hefei Municipal Education Bureau.

He said that all candidates should hold nursery teachers' certificates and possess the required level of Chinese language.

"The government should place more emphasis on improving residents' lives and building a more harmonious society," said Wu Cunrong, a member of the Standing Committee of CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and secretary of CPC Hefei Municipal Committee. He added that preschool education was on the agenda for improving local people's livelihoods.

In 2011, the city saw an increase of 133 kindergartens and 13 rebuilt kindergartens, with financial assistance of 20 million yuan ($3.2 million).