BEIJING -- China is working hard to ensure school attendance in terms of compulsory education by implementing a regular checking and reporting mechanism aimed at dropouts across counties nationwide.

According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education, county-level education authorities are tasked with conducting thorough checks to ascertain the number of dropouts in their jurisdictions.

The document emphasizes the need to prevent students from being "present at school in name only," as this results in them disengaging from school education and school management, potentially exposing them to harm or involvement in illegal activities.

Specific focus is being placed on vulnerable student groups, including orphans, children left behind in rural areas, those living with migrant worker parents in urban areas, and adolescents featuring in criminal cases. Monitoring efforts should prioritize these groups, as highlighted in the circular.

Schools nationwide are instructed to promptly identify students who are absent from classes and maintain close communication with their families to address dropout rates effectively.

Furthermore, the circular calls upon local education authorities to intensify efforts to persuade and encourage dropout students to return to school promptly.