Guangdong provincial government has issued guidelines for boosting small and boarding primary and junior high schools in rural areas following the release of the national guidelines by the State Council in April.
The provincial guidelines, released last month, require that boarding schools and schools with less than 100 students meet provincial educational standards by 2020, with improved school locations, funding, management, staffing and performance.
The standards relate to on-site facilities, equipment, living and sanitary facilities at boarding schools, food safety in school canteens and students' safety, said Fang Shusheng, director of the basic education and information technology division of the Provincial Department of Education at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Guangdong had 6,103 small rural schools listed in the 2017 academic year, with the vast majority being located in the northern, eastern and western parts of the province.
As part of efforts to increase teaching resources at small and boarding schools in rural areas, internet-based classes, provided through government procurement, will be promoted, Fang said.
