Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing has urged the building of more good quality senior middle schools in China to meet the demand of educational development.

Li visited several middle schools in north China's Tianjin City from May 8 to 9.

He said that senior middle school education has become a bottleneck in China's urban education with a population peak of senior middle school students in cities.

In China, middle school education consists of three-year junior period and three-year senior period. Graduation from junior middle school is compulsory for all students.

The vice-premier said that senior middle schools can be separated from the junior ones and private senior middle schools should be encouraged.

He noted that investment in building senior middle schools should be increased. The reform of courses and examinations should be stepped up.

Li also urged the popularization of the Internet and the development of bilingual education.

(People's Daily May 10, 2002)