China’s top legislative group, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), will start inspecting how the Compulsory Education Law is being enforced in 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.
Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee said they will focus on how local governments allocate money for education in rural areas, the quality of compulsory education and the safety of school buildings.
Similar inspections have been conducted twice over the past two years. Lawmakers discovered many problems including insufficient funding in mountain regions, poorly equipped rural school houses and underpaid rural teachers.
Lu Yongxiang said the purpose of the inspection is to supervise and urge the State Council and relevant government departments to make sure the law, which was adopted in 1986 and amended in 2006, is being implemented effectively.
China’s compulsory education consists of six years of primary school and three years of junior high school. The law stipulates free-tuition for compulsory education.
Source: China View