Premier Wen: practical education policies to benefit poor,migrant population

Source: CRI | 01-04-2009 16:32

Premier Wen Jiabao has called for China's education policy makers to develop practical schemes to ensure that the poor have equal access to education.

In a just-released speech Wen delivered at a meeting of the State Council, or the cabinet, in late August, which is to be published by the People's Daily on Monday, he urged policy makers to take into account regional economic imbalances and income differentials between urban residents and farmers, which existed despite the country's tremendous economic achievements.

Education policies should be based on realities and reflect the fairly low level of per capita income, he said.

Wealth disparities, developmental imbalances between urban and rural areas and the huge rural migrant population should all be considered when forming education policies, he told the meeting, which approved a 12-year education plan (2009-2020).

Education has a "far-reaching impact" and serves as the "cornerstone" of national development, according to the released version of the speech.

To address current economic challenges and tackle structural economic problems, the country must rely on scientific and technological progress and raising the quality of the workforce, Wen said.