The first grade of both primary ethnic language schools and junior high ethnic language schools in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region will start using State-compiled Chinese language textbooks, which will not add an extra homework load onto the students, the local education authority announced on Aug 29.

The curricula of other subjects and other grades will remain unchanged. Their textbooks, language for teaching, class hours for Mongolian and Korean courses and current bilingual teaching systems also remain unchanged.

The use of State-compiled Chinese language textbooks conforms to the rules of the country’s laws on standard spoken and written Chinese language, education, compulsory education and regional autonomy, said Hao Zejun, head of the region’s department of justice.

According to the Education Law, schools and other education institutions should use standard spoken and written Chinese language in their teaching. In addition, those schools where the majority of students are of minority nationalities can carry out bilingual education, using both standard spoken and written Chinese language and the languages of their nationalities.

The Law on the Regional National Autonomy guarantees the ethnic groups' freedom to use their own languages, but also encourages the use and learning of the standard spoken and written Chinese language.

It is the responsibility of governments at all levels, education institutions and every citizen to promote and use the standard spoken and written Chinese language, as well as the languages of their nationalities.