BEIJING -- Lawmakers on Tuesday started deliberating a draft revision to the Law on National Defense Education that is expected to enhance the national defense awareness of citizens.

The draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee for the first reading.

Consisting of 39 articles in six chapters, the draft clarifies the definition, guiding principles, leadership mechanism, and work responsibilities of national defense education.

The draft aims to build a national defense education system that connects various levels and types of schools, improving the goals, content, and methods of national defense education in primary schools, middle schools, and universities.

The draft also specifies the national defense literacy and capabilities that staff in state organs should possess. It regulates media and internet dissemination of national defense-related content and national defense education venues.

The National Defense Education Law was passed in 2001 and underwent a package modification in 2018 along with other laws.