A senior Chinese official says the country will take effective measures to improve compulsory education in rural areas, and make sure all farmers' children go to school.

State councilor Chen Zhili made the statement after an inspection tour of various counties in central China's Henan Povince.

She urges governments at all levels to allocate more money to fund compulsory education.

She says the construction of schools should take priority over infrastructure.

The senior official also pledges to develop distance education and make those excellent education resources available in rural areas. 

(CRI October 18, 2004)