Developing countries received an education bonanza from China yesterday: the number of foreign teachers receiving training in the nation will be tripled and 100 rural schools will be built in the next three years.

These were among the commitments made to developing nations by the Chinese Government yesterday to promote "education for all."

Premier Wen Jiabao announced the measures in Beijing at the fifth High-Level Group Meeting on Education for All (EFA) and pledged to better fulfil EFA objectives set by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In addition to raising the number of teachers receiving training in China from 500 to 1,500, the promises to developing nations include:

Chinese Government Scholarships will be given to 10,000 students, up from 6,700.

US$1 million will be allocated to UNESCO's Africa Department

Education aid for disaster-stricken countries will be increased.

"To realize the goal of education for all, developed countries ought to shoulder more responsibility and offer unconditional help," Wen said. "But co-operation among developing countries is also essential."

In 2000, the UNESCO Dakar Action Plan set objectives for 2015: All children, particularly girls, and those in difficult circumstances or from ethnic minorities, should have access to free and compulsory primary education of good quality.

A 50 per cent improvement in the levels of adult literacy as well as gender equality in education should be achieved as well.

Arthur Ngoma, vice-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo who attended the meeting, praised China's efforts to promote education in developing countries. "The help offered by China is sincere and will be of great significance to us," he said.

Wen also announced that in line with the Dakar Plan, China would provide free compulsory education in rural areas in two years, and proper education to children of migrant workers.

At the end of last year, the nine-year compulsory education programme covered 94 per cent of China's populated areas, up 9 per cent over 2000. And 94 million adults have become literate in the past 15 years. Enditem

Source: China Daily