150 million rural pupils go to school for free

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-03-2007 08:36

Students smile as they get free textbooks at a primary school in Rizhao, East China's Shandong Province August 31, 2007. The fall semester started on Friday. [newsphoto]

Beginning this school year, students in rural areas will no longer have to pay for their education. The new policy starts from the fall semester, and will benefit primary and middle school children in the countryside.

The new policy targets 150 million pupils in rural China. September 1st marks the beginning of the school year and students who dropped-out due to financial duress can return to education free of charge.

In many places, local governments are already funding students who come from poor families so that they can live in the school's dorms.

Student, Hebei province, said, "I dropped out from school in the 6th grade for financial reasons. Now I can go to school for free. The local government even gave me a subsidy for living expenses."

The tuition exemption has relieved the financial burden on 150 million rural families with school-age children. Parents are also happy with the new policy.

Farmer, Hebei province, said, "I used to be very worried about money when the new semester started. Now I don't need to think about that any more."

Last year, the central government exempted students in rural areas of western China from paying tuition and miscellaneous fees related to China's nine-year compulsory education. The same system was applied in the central and eastern regions of the country earlier this year.

The move was designed as a step forward in China's overall policy to ensure that all school-age children can enjoy nine years of compulsory education for free.

Eight provinces and municipalities have also exempted urban students from paying educational fees. And Zhuhai city in southern China has extended free education to twelve years.