China will adopt a series of measures to help narrow the increasing education gap between its rural and urban areas.

According to a document issued by the Ministry of Education recently, education departments at various levels, when promoting compulsory education, must work to curb the gap between different regions and schools.

According to Chinese law, nine years of education is compulsory in China.

"The gaps have existed in aspects of facilities, funds, teacher groups, education quality and other aspects," said the ministry.

The document warned that the imbalance of economic development in China and the gaps left over from the past have created ever- widening gaps in the quality of China's compulsory education.

A standardized rating system should be established to improve the quality of every school, according to the document.

At the same time, education rights of children from vulnerable social groups must be protected.

"When educated, children of migrant workers seeking fortune in cities should be treated equal with those of urban residents," said the ministry.