Premier Wen Jiabao has called for China's education policy makers to develop practical schemes to ensure that the poor have equal access to education.

In a just-released speech Wen delivered at a meeting of the State Council, or the cabinet, in late August, which is to be published by the People's Daily on Monday, he urged policy makers to take into account regional economic imbalances and income differentials between urban residents and farmers, which existed despite the country's tremendous economic achievements.

Education policies should be based on realities and reflect the fairly low level of per capita income, he said.

Wealth disparities, developmental imbalances between urban and rural areas and the huge rural migrant population should all be considered when forming education policies, he told the meeting, which approved a 12-year education plan (2009-2020).

Education has a "far-reaching impact" and serves as the "cornerstone" of national development, according to the released version of the speech.

To address current economic challenges and tackle structural economic problems, the country must rely on scientific and technological progress and raising the quality of the workforce, Wen said.

To ensure that people have equal access to education is in the public interest and in line with the demands of economic and social development, he said.

Wen urged policy-makers to carry out "systematic" and "consistent" education reform and called for pilot programs to test the feasibility of education plans.

He also urged to build a modern education system with Chinese characteristics that would integrate world-class education concepts.

Other factors to be considered in education plans should be the demographic, industrial and employment structures, according to Wen.

The premier also called for overall strategies be both substantial and flexible.

The 12-year plan, China's first education plan for the 21st century, was proposed by the Ministry of Education.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2009)