International education summit closes in NZ

WELLINGTON (Xinhua) - Nearly 400 education ministers and teacher representatives from 25 countries around the world ended a two-day summit in Wellington on Saturday, aimed at closing the gap between rich and poor students.

Delegates to the International Summit on the Teaching Profession discussed ways of improving their education systems and narrowing the difference in achievement between rich and poor.

The delegates said there was strong agreement on the need for high quality teachers and more collaboration between schools and between teachers, Radio New Zealand reported.

They said it was also clear that governments must have strong and positive relationships with teacher unions.