Education minister urges efforts to fight poverty

China’s education minister has called for all-out efforts to improve education to support the country’s fight against poverty, according to a report on the website of the Ministry of Education.

Minister Chen Baosheng made the remarks at a meeting on targeted poverty reduction programs in the education sector, held in Yunnan province on April 22.

Chen called on universities and institutions involved in the programs to focus on major problems, come up with targeted measures and work with a greater sense of responsibility.

Measures to ensure access to nine-year compulsory education and control dropout rate in poor areas should be based on full knowledge of the relevant situation and the number and conditions of school-age children in registered poor households, Chen said.

He also required to select competent officials and personnel to work for the programs.

Moreover, strengthened inspections are needed to make sure the results in the programs are solid and effective.