Graduating students of senior secondary schools in Beijing are expected to return to class from May 22 to prepare for university entrance examinations, which will be held as scheduled on June 7-10.

The municipal educational committee announced Saturday that all other students would also gradually resume classes, which were temporarily suspended from Apr. 24 for safety reasons during the SARS crisis.

The entrance examination for senior secondary schools, however, has been postponed from June 24 to July 8 with examinations being reduced from the previous five to just Chinese, mathematics and English.

Beginning May 26, Beijing's rural districts, excluding Tongzhou district, can resume classes at their own discretion.

From June 9, graduating students of primary and junior secondary schools in other districts, including Tongzhou, will also return to school.

The remaining students will return to class on July 14 in preparation for their term examinations. For these students, lessons will be given on television, radio, Internet and other media to help their studies.

The municipal educational committee urged all districts to be highly aware of SARS prevention and take strict measures before and after the resumption of school to guarantee the safety of teachers and students.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2003)