The Ministry of Education says China will stick to its policy of 9-year compulsory education. The suggestion to change to 12 years is beyond the country's means.
![](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090402/000cf1a487730b3e6fc05f.jpg)
The Ministry stresses one of features of compulsory education is that it's free. China is a developing country and nine years is all it can afford.
The current emphasis will be on enhancing the system, making the 9 year-compulsory education universal in Western China, and eliminating teenage and adult illiteracy.
![](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090402/000cf1a487730b3e6fc660.jpg)
The Ministry says it agrees with some developed areas to popularize compulsory high school education.
(CCTV April 2, 2009)