China bans foreign books in primary, secondary schools

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING (AA) - China's Education Ministry has banned foreign education books in the country's primary and secondary schools.

The ministry on Tuesday said foreign teaching materials translated by local publishers may be preferred in case the books published in the country are not sufficient to meet the needs of the high schools.

The ministerial guideline also said the educational materials that contain "problems of political orientation or value orientation" will also be prohibited.

It stressed that socialist values will be encouraged in all educational materials.

"All primary and secondary school teaching materials must reflect the will of the [Chinese Communist] Party and the country," it said.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev in Ankara.