Official calls for ideological emancipation in educational sector

BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Chinese media) -- State Councilor Liu

Yandong has called for ideological emancipation, reform and innovation in the

country's educational sector, so as to encourage the building an overall

prosperous society for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.

Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the

Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke at the annual working

conference of the Ministry of Education Monday.

In her speech, Liu attributed the prosperity of the

country's educational sector to the great times of the Reform and Opening-up

Drive. The sector has witnessed great development in past 30 years, she said.

China has built up the world's largest educational

system, featuring major breakthroughs in secondary schooling, and higher

enrollments the in colleges and other higher-learning institutions, according to

Liu.

Currently, the country is probing an educational

development road with China's own characteristics, by further pushing forward

the educational reform, making major steps in achieving a fair education for

all, and improving logistic conditions. The educational sector "has made an

irreplaceable, important contribution to the country's modernization drive," she

said.

The official said that the government will continue

to play a leading role in the educational sector, while nongovernmental sectors

will be encouraged to join in, so as to stimulate the enthusiasm of the whole

society in developing the sector, she said.

In 2009, the government will work out a long-term

guideline for the educational reform; make substantial efforts to develop

education in rural, remote and minority areas; implement central policies and

measures regarding the educational sector, meet the challenges of the current

global financial crisis; and do a good job in maintaining stability in the

educational sector, according to the state councilor.