China releases revised regulation on improving education for disabled

BEIJING -- China on Thursday issued a revised regulation on improving education for the disabled.

The regulation, singed by Premier Li Keqiang, will take effect on May 1, 2017.

The revision stressed stepping up efforts in developing compulsory, vocational, preschool and senior secondary education for the disabled.

For compulsory education, disabled students should be enrolled in normal or special schools near to their home, and those who cannot attend school in person should have teachers visit or receive distance education, says the regulation.

The regulation stipulates that during compulsory education, disabled students in normal schools should be taught by teachers with experience in special education.

Vocational education for the disabled should focus on skill cultivation and career guidance, says the regulation.

It also stresses raising payment for special education workers, allocating proper funds for education of disabled people in government budgets and offering subsidies to disabled students with financial difficulties.

The initial regulation was enacted in 1994 to guarantee the rights to education for the disabled.