China will adopt a new payment system for teachers working in compulsory education, to ensure that these teachers are paid according to their performance, while their average pay will not be lower than that of civil servants.

At a recent executive meeting, the State Council approved a document on the implementation of the results-and-performance-linked payment in schools of compulsory education. Premier Wen Jiabao presided over the meeting.

According to the meeting, the reform is aimed to attract and encourage excellent talents to working in the educational field for life, so as to promote the country's educational undertakings.

The new policy will be launched beginning January 1, 2009.

Meanwhile, the government will give subsidies to retired teachers from schools of compulsory education.

The payment reform will be combined with the deepening of reforms on personnel management, funding and fee collection, and financial management in compulsory schools.

The central government will give due assistance to the reform, while provincial governments will prepare the funds. County-level governments will be responsible for carrying out the reform.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2008)