China to improve education service for elderly

BEIJING -- China will offer more policy support to boost education services for its senior citizens, according to a plan released by the General Office of the State Council.

The plan said China should establish a comprehensive elderly education system by 2020, with diversified teaching approaches and content.

Communities, nursing houses and other elderly care facilities are encouraged to offer a range of courses, and the government will provide full support, including financial subsidies and IT services.

According to the plan's target, more than 20 percent of the total elderly population will be able to regularly participate in various educational activities by 2020.

As of the end of 2015, people over 65 years old accounted for more than 10 percent of China's total population.

By 2020, the number of senior citizens will reach 240 million, or 17 percent of the population, according to an estimate by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.