BEIJING - China's Ministry of Education promised Thursday to make schools the "brightest and safest" places.

Chen Baosheng, minister of education, said in a national teleconference on school safety that the safety of students and teachers was always the top priority.

Chen called on more efforts to improve the prevention and control system, strengthen school security forces and make full use of digital management.

Chen required schools nationwide to pay more attention to moral education and psychological health education, and take care of students' mental conditions.

He also stressed the importance of everyday management and punishment according to law to prevent school bullying and violence.

"Criminal acts including physical punishment, sexual harassment and sexual abuse must be treated with utmost seriousness," Chen said.