Shenzhen will beef up higher education and international educational cooperation, and ensure equal opportunities for education in 2006, according to the city's education bureau.

The bureau will begin plans for one or two more universities this year, making a great leap in the development of higher education, said the bureau chief Zhang Baoquan at a work meeting Friday.

He didn't elaborate on the plan but said the bureau will actively promote the feasibility of a postgraduate school establishment, like one of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, in Shenzhen.

The city's leading university Shenzhen University will hopefully be qualified to grant doctorate degrees this year, while Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology will be moved to the Olympic New Town in Longgang District, a new higher education center of the city, according to Zhang.

Zhang urged the schools in the city to foster a global vision by drawing advanced educational theory and teaching methodology from other parts of the world, sending teachers and headmasters to study abroad, and enhancing international exchange.

The city will continue its emphasis on English teaching and the government program of introducing expat English teachers to primary and high schools.

The government will work out measures to promote education equilibrium among different regions, schools and opportunities for individuals in the first half of this year, Zhang said.

It will renovate and enlarge several schools including Shenzhen Middle School, Bibo Middle School and Shenzhen Primary School to ensure enough seats for the city's growing student population.

(Shenzhen Daily January 23, 2006)