Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with representatives of Chinese teachers Friday in Beijing and extended festival greetings to all Chinese teachers on the eve of the 21st National Teachers' Day.

Wen met with some 300 representatives of college and university teachers, who are in Beijing to receive awards for their achievements in teaching, in the Great Hall of the People.

After taking a group photo with them, Wen said the key in improving the quality of China's higher education lies in the teachers and the improvement of the quality of teachers.

He said in addition to deepening reform of the system and methods of higher education, three concrete steps should also be taken to enhance the quality of higher education.

The first is carrying out the principle of heuristic education. The crucial element of heuristic education is to cultivate independent thinking and creative thinking, with the purpose of enabling students to grasp learning skills and improve their creative capability.

Second, professors and famous teachers should also conduct classroom instructions.

Third, students should be taught facts as well as how to behave themselves in society. Students should not only become specialists in certain fields, but also people with well-rounded development.

Wen then met and took a group photo in the hall with five teachers from Beijing who are regarded as paragons in conforming with professional ethics.

Wen said virtuous and high-quality teachers are important in cultivating students that develop well in all aspects, including ethics, mind and constitution. The deeds of the five teachers should be publicized and promoted.

China's National Teachers' Day falls on September 10 every year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2005)