Beijing's Education Bureau said that they would further the policy for the compulsory education period and gradually implement a totally free compulsory education system within the year.
This means that the education departments will expand the free textbook policy that was carried out among rural students to the suburban students. In the meantime, the education department will consider exempting the tuition fees of students under the compulsory education.
In addition, the Beijing Education Bureau said at a press conference that from this year on, they would gradually reduce the number of senior high schools by combining smaller schools that lack adequate teaching facilities. They will also plan and construct a youth academy to train middle school students to be scientific researchers.
At present, there are more than 330 senior high schools in Beijing. With the decrease of junior high school students year by year, some senior high schools can't get enough students to reach the 4-12 classes standard.
