Yuan Guiren, China's Education Minister [Photo: Xinhua]

The Education Minister says China's overall education development has been ranked in the world's upper-mid level.

Minister Yuan Guiren made the remarks on the sidelines of China's two annual political sessions.

The education minister says the conclusion was made by an independent third party, adding that there are three reasons behind the assessment result.

"First, the gross enrollment for pre-schools is 75 percent, up to the average level of the world's middle- to upper-income countries. Second, the gross enrollment for primary schools is 99.9 percent, and that for junior middle schools is 104 percent. China's nine-year compulsory education exceeds the average level of the high-income countries in the world."

For the third reason, Yuan says the gross enrollment rate for high schools is 87 percent and that for higher education is 40 percent, both above the average level of the upper-middle income countries in the world.

By 2020, the gross enrollment for higher education is expected to expand to 50 percent.

The minister also addressed the education issue in rural areas, saying good teachers are the key to success.

Yuan says the country has taken measures to encourage capable teachers to take up posts in rural areas.

"China will create favorable conditions for teachers in rural areas. Actually, we have done some of this work in some poverty-stricken areas and gathered hundreds of thousands of teachers. This time we will provide subsidies to all teachers in rural areas."

He adds that the government will make salaries and benefits for teachers in rural areas the same as those for urban teachers, and also encourage communications between teachers based in rural and urban schools.