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A state-financed program of boarding school construction in remote areas has entered its third year with central government departments distributing the budgeted 3 billion yuan (US$370 million) for 2006 late last month.

Launched in 2004, the program involves the construction or renovation of around 7,000 boarding schools in sparsely populated areas by 2007 to educate children who would otherwise be unable to go to school.

The total budget for the program is 10 billion yuan (US$1.25 billion).

The money will soon prove a worthwhile investment for a country struggling to achieve universal coverage of nine-year compulsory education in remote, impoverished areas, where some local governments are too weak and residents are too poor to support children's basic education.

So far, work has been completed on 3,200 schools. Spending on the program has started to pay off. In some areas, children whose homes are days away from the nearest schools have started their education.

The launching of this massive program is an indication that the central government, buoyed by the swelling of the State's coffers, has decided to be more aggressive in improving educational conditions in poor areas.

At a time when problems are very evident in our nation's education and healthcare systems, the government's efforts in the education sector are certainly laudable.

The boarding school project is the centerpiece of a bigger national program designed to improve educational conditions in the country's remote areas. The government has also started to waive fees and provide free textbooks and allowance to students from the poorest families.

The boarding school project will be renewed after its 2004-07 cycle. And the government has announced that boarding expenses in rural schools will be borne by the government from 2009.

However, considering the diverse, complex situation in different parts of the country, it will be a challenge to make sure that charges levied before 2009 are acceptable and that those who really cannot afford them are exempted.

The fairness of the fee waiver, free textbooks and distribution of allowances also requires attention. The project's designers have taken every possible measure to ensure the transparency of the selection process.

Nevertheless, constant efforts are required to prevent corruption at village level.

These problems can be resolved for good only when these benefits cover all students in rural areas.

Financially it is not impossible if the country's fiscal health remains in good shape. The country should work towards that direction.

(China Daily July 4, 2006)