China's nine years of compulsory¹ education will not be extended to 12 years, the Department of Basic Education of the Ministry² of Education said in a statement.

教育部基础教育司日前在一份声明中表示，我国的九年义务教育将不会升级为十二年制。

"We are yet to have the conditions to include senior high school in compulsory education," the department said, adding that the main task in terms of senior high school education is for it to meet the needs of more junior high school graduates.

该部门称：“将高中阶段教育纳入义务教育还不具备条件”，并表示，高中阶段教育的主要任务是满足更多初中毕业生的需要。

According to the statement, despite the goal for senior high school education to be implemented³ nationwide by 2020, which was included in a plan issued earlier this year, it does not mean senior high school education will be compulsory and free.

该声明称，尽管到2020年全国普及高中阶段教育被纳入了今年早些时候发布的一项计划，这并不意味着高中阶段教育会是义务教育和免费教育。

"Promoting high school education is more about making sure students can attend senior high schools. Our compulsory education is still imbalanced and insufficient," the statement read.

声明还指出：“推进高中阶段教育重在确保学生有高中可上。我们的义务教育仍然是发展不平衡的、有不足的”

The department also dismissed rumors⁴ that the senior high school entrance exam would be canceled.

另外，基础教育司还对中考将取消的消息进行了辟谣。

"We want to cut the number of exams to reduce the pressure on our students," the statement said.

声明称：“我们想要减少考试的数量，以减轻学生的压力。”