The selling of assets owned by China's public middle and primary schools and kindergartens must cease immediately and those continuing with asset sales will be punished, China's Ministry of Education said Wednesday.

A notice issued by the ministry to local education administrative departments and education supervision departments, states that from now on there should be no selling or auctioning of assets owned by public middle and primary schools and kindergartens.

Property owned by public schools and kindergartens but not in use should be handed over to appropriate education departments to be used for primary or community education facilities.