China plans to set up the National Committee for Educational Inspection to monitor the quality of education and ensure basic schooling for every child.

According to the draft regulations on educational inspection that were made public on Thursday by the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, to solicit public opinion, the committee is expected to ensure the implementation of the country's guiding education principles, policies and regulations.

The organization will be responsible for carrying out inspections, mainly in compulsory and secondary educational institutions, to ensure popularization of the nine year compulsory education and fair distribution of educational resources.

It also aims to guarantee teacher's proper working and living conditions, stop inconsistent fee collections in schools, and improve the overall quality of students instead of focusing only on their academic scores, according to the draft regulations.

The committee will be comprised of a general inspector, deputy general inspector and state educational inspectors -- administrators who know the education laws, regulations and situations.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)