Education funded by private investors has made headway in the Chinese capital, with more than 2,052 private schools and educational institutions currently operating in Beijing, enrolling more than 1 million students.

A private education association was launched in Beijing Thursday, the first ever locally, ushering in a new stage for the development of private education in Beijing.

The association will open its own website and will cooperate with the press to offer the latest education information and report timely to the public the unqualified education units.

Local education departments have pledged to help improve private education while increasing supervision of private education units with more strict practices.

Xian Lianping, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Educational Committee, said that though the number of private education units has declined slightly in Beijing, the private schools are seeing increased investment and improved teaching level.

Policies will be adopted to standardize private education in Beijing, to encourage investment from the public in private education, and to commend the schools doing well, added Xian.
 
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2004)