China will adopt during the 10th Five-year Plan period 2001-05 a series of preferential policies in the way its western region especially those parts still poverty ridden are to be specially helped out with preferential policies by the state in developing education, as is known from the Ministry of Education.
"Education should be put in the first place in bringing a boost to Western China's development. But there is a shortage of personnel in the region that stands as the biggest gap between the country's west and east", said Zhang Baoqing, vice-minister of Education.
A change will accordingly be made to this situation and to this end, repetitions in construction will be avoided according to Western China's development plans.
Structural adjustments will be made as well of the region's educational setup focusing on Xi'an Jiaotong University, Lanzhou University and Sichuan University and on the role of the three key universities run at a state level in Western China.
The Ministry also has plans to help the western region of the country with a wide network and satellite video system to be built in the way their scientific research and informationalization education will be equally developed as in other parts of China.
"The western region should take precedence in China's college enrollment, institution of key disciplines and building up of key faculties", Zhang specially said.
The state's support also takes the form of funds. It is reported that a sum of 5bn yuan would, in coming ten years, be injected into compulsory education in the country's impoverished areas, especially those in Western China.
Meanwhile, an additional amount of 3bn yuan will also be earmarked to help develop education in Western China. All dilapidated school buildings as having long been in a state of disrepair will be rebuilt in the region and various types of new educational institutions and facilities will be launched as is told.
(People's Daily 02/08/01)
