BEIJING -- The top legislature on Sunday adopted an amendment to the Education Law to strengthen bilingual teaching among ethnic minorities and improve higher education.

The amendment was adopted at a week-long bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which closed on Sunday.

The amendment endorsed strengthened use of Putonghua, or mandarin Chinese, and Chinese characters, along with local languages in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities.

It mandates that in institutions where students of ethnic minority groups are the majority, education should be carried out bilingually, namely using both Putonghua and Chinese characters, and the languages of the ethnic minority groups.

The amendment stipulates that the government should provide support for bilingual teaching in these schools.

Other highlights in the amendment include promoting fairness in education, and developing pre-school education, particularly in rural areas.

There are also harsher penalties for cheating and fraud in national examinations. Violators may face criminal charges.