Over 100 primary and middle schools in China's capital will be abolished or merged this year, as part of a continuing policy of the local government to reshuffle its educational resources.

According to the 2004 priority tasks recently listed by the local education administration, the facilities of 173 suburb-based primary and middle schools will be upgraded, and medical care conditions in 200 rural schools will be improved.

The local education administration also plans to encourage non-governmental capital to cooperate with some universities, reform the human resources management system of local primary and middle schools, and start certification of teachers.

Meanwhile, government sources said that local high schools will enroll 90,000 students this year, and public primary and middle schools will admit more children of migrant workers.

In addition, the quality of kindergarten education will be improved, and more university apartments will be built this year. In 2004, university apartments totaling 1 million square meters will be built, and half of them will be ready for use.

(People's Daily February 9, 2004)