BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- China will fully popularize nine-year compulsory education in five years, or during its 11th five-year period for national economic and social development (2006-2010).

    Chinese Minister of Education Zhou Ji made the remarks here Tuesday at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council.

    Zhou noted that in the five-year period, China will increase the enrollment rate of Chinese senior secondary education and higher education to 80 percent and 25 percent, respectively. In the meantime, China will also expand its secondary vocational education to about the size of its general secondary education. Enditem