International   

China waives fees for urban students

BEIJING: China has abolished tuition and other incidental fees for urban students from the coming Autumn term to promote the nine-year compulsory education system, according to a State Council decision.

The decision was taken at the State Council (Cabinet) meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The meeting decided that the government would continue to offer free textbooks and subsidised boarding fees for students from low-income families. Education departments were asked to take full responsibility to enhance fee management, improve the education fund guarantee mechanism and monitor fund use.

Those who misuse funds for compulsory education would be punished, said a statement.

Efforts must be made to ensure that children of migrant workers receive proper schooling in cities. The majority of them should study in public schools and be exempted from tuition and miscellaneous fees. Those who study in private schools shall also receive subsidies, said the statement.

The government would make greater efforts in supporting compulsory education in rural areas, including priority in funding, reinforcing and renovating school buildings, opening more boarding schools, increasing subsidies to poor students and improving working conditions for rural teachers, said the statement. — Xinhua

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Charges, counter-charges will not help: Quereshi
Pakistan not eligible for similar n-deal: Burns
Israel Premier Olmert to resign
Wife vacates seat for Anwar
BAE deal probe suspension upheld
China waives fees for urban students
Layered treasure
Portugal to sell 5 lakh Classmate PCs
A pill to help shed the flab?

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu