With summer holidays days away, China's Ministry of Education is urging primary and middle schools nationwide to launch practices against earthquake and flooding for students before the two-month break.

The schools should arrange for students to watch a special program about disaster precautions. They will also have a simulated practice on emergency evacuation when a quake or flood occurs, according to an urgent ministry circular issued on Friday.

On Monday, the special program, prepared by the ministry, will be broadcast via television and the Internet to teach students about the precautions against earthquake, flood, traffic accidents and crowds

In addition, they will study the brave and touching stories that emerged during the fight against the May 12 quake. They will also start etiquette lessons to sharpen their manners in preparation to welcome the world to the August Beijing Olympics.

All the instruction videos on natural disaster precautions, Olympic etiquette, Olympic Games rules, regulations on watching the Games and even the trailers for the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics have been compiled on to CDs. They are also available on the ministry's website for downloading.

As of Friday noon, the earthquake that jolted the southwestern Sichuan and some neighboring provinces had killed 69,186 people and injured 374,174.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2008)