No students were forced to drop out of university this year for
a lack of finance, after new measures were implemented by
Shenzhen's higher education institutions, the Shenzhen Economic
Daily reported Wednesday.
Students from 208 poor families entered Shenzhen University without
having to pay tuition fees. Most were eligible to apply for a bank
loan.
A new national loan program was implemented throughout the country
for financially strapped college students in the new academic year.
Under the new program, students will have two years to repay the
bank loan after graduating.
The Ministry of Finance is subsidizing the interest on loans.
In the past, there was no interest subsidization and students who
borrowed from banks had to repay the debt within 90 days of
graduating.
Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Polytechnic will allocate 10
percent of the tuition fees to a fund designed to help students
from poor families.
The fund would be used to either create jobs on campus for the poor
students, or provide loans, a Shenzhen Polytechnic official
surnamed Chen said.
The subsidies were available in three amounts, 300 yuan (US$36),
200 yuan and 150 yuan monthly, he said.
Shenzhen University also called for donations from teachers and
other school staff to set up financial aids and scholarships for
students in need.
(Shenzhen Daily September 23, 2004)