China promotes austerity in schools

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Education (MOE) has required schools to shun extravagance and waste, echoing calls from the country's leaders for thrifty lifestyles and a rejection of pomp.

All schools are asked to eradicate pompous decorations and cut the size and number of meetings, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, celebrations and forums, the ministry said in a circular on Wednesday.

Schools are banned from having luxury school gates, buildings, offices, hotels and elevators, according to the circular posted on the ministry's website.

The MOE advocated frugality in official receptions on campus, promoted energy conservation campaigns and took aim at waste in school cafeterias by encouraging diners to clear their plates.

School authorities are told to fight against formalism in implementing the circular and seriously deal with violations against it.

The circular echoes a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in December 2012, at which participants vowed to cut formalism, bureaucracy and extravagance.

Following the election of Xi Jinping as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012, the CPC has worked harder to address corruption and promote austerity in public spending, in a bid to win trust and support from the people.