According to a circular published this Sunday on the ministry's website, adverts for overseas studies involved with "misleading promotion" should be dealt with according to the law, with the help of industry and commerce bureaus.

Chinese schools working with foreign counterparts to send students abroad to study or issuing foreign diplomas have thrived because they are "meeting the public's diverse educational demands," but some problems have emerged, it said.

It called on educational departments and colleges to gain a deeper understanding of foreign schools, to sign standardized agreements on educational exchanges, and clarify and strictly implement teaching plans, student records, training schemes, curriculum arrangements and diploma issuance.

The circular said that the Ministry of Education would not approve any foreign diplomas and certificates that are acquired or issued illegally. Diploma approval by the educational ministry is a necessary step before foreign diplomas are recognized in China.

It also asks teachers to "cautiously" participate in teaching events organized by foreign schools, and prohibits them from illicit teaching.

The circular went on to say that various levels of educational departments and universities should regulate the sector of foreign education.