The Ministry of Education (MOE) has listed improved assistance
for impoverished students as one of its key efforts in 2005, the
Beijing Daily reported on January 10.
To ensure that the poorest students receive an allowance of 150
yuan (US$18) per month in accordance with state regulations, the
MOE has called for closer cooperation between banks and
institutions of higher learning.
Approximately 2.4 million financially disadvantaged students are
enrolled in China's colleges and universities, accounting for 20
percent of the total. Regulations state that 5 percent of the total
number of students enrolled are entitled to the allowance.
The ministry also directed that colleges and universities
allocate 10 percent of tuition fees to funding poor students.
Financial aids and support will be given greater emphasis in
2005. By 2007, MOE expects students from 24 million poor families
in central and western China will enjoy free textbooks, boarding
subsidies and exemption from miscellaneous fees, in accordance with
a central government directive issued in 2001.
The State Council demanded governments at various levels
establish special funds to cover the costs of these benefits. From
2001 through 2003, the central government also contributed a total
700 million yuan (US$84.6 million), the amount doubling each
year.
As of the end of 2004, 32 percent of impoverished students in
central and western China had received free textbooks.
(China.org.cn by Wind Gu,?January 13, 2005)