BEIJING - This is part of an annual government program providing educational support for the country's poor areas, including contiguous areas of extreme poverty.

A total of 22,842 teachers will be selected for the program for the 2020-2021 academic year, of whom 21,635 will work in the field of compulsory education, from elementary to junior high school, according to a circular posted on the ministry website.

Under the program, the teachers usually work in poor areas for one year, but they can opt to extend their stay.

Calling the move a key step to advance China's targeted poverty reduction through education, the circular urged local authorities to coordinate epidemic control and anti-poverty efforts, implement the program well and ensure that teachers safely take up their new posts.