In this regard, KCNA met Sin Se Hung, first vice-minister of General Education under the Education Commission.

Q: What kinds of preparations does the ministry make for beginning the universal 12-year compulsory education this year?

A: The ministry steps up varieties of preparations in response to the tasks laid down in the New Year address of the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

They include division of six-year secondary schools into three-year junior secondary schools and three-year senior secondary schools, disposition of teachers in accordance with their quality and ability and rational distribution of school things, experimental equipment, computers and other modern educational means.

A work is also going on to turn the four-year primary school system into five-year one.

Q: I think teachers' ability is crucial to improving the quality of the secondary general education.

A: Courses and in-service trainings are organized at various levels to suit schooling programs changed in accordance with the new system.

Big efforts have been made nationwide to apply heuristic teaching at schools, with primary attention being paid to basic and theoretical teaching.

Q: I think IT-based education and good educational conditions are also important for the improvement of education. What's your opinion?

A: You are right. IT-based education is instrumental to improving the quality of the universal 12-year compulsory education.

Various kinds of multimedia have been developed to be used in teaching, experiment and school administration.

Meanwhile, a work for solving the shortage of teachers is also under way.