Rural students in China's relatively backward western region
will enjoy free compulsory education from 2006, according to a
government decision.
The treatment will be granted to rural students in the central
and eastern regions in 2007, according to the decision made Friday
at an executive meeting of the State Council, chaired by Premier Wen
Jiabao.
In addition, students from poor rural families will be granted
free textbooks. Boarding students will receive subsidies to support
their daily lives, according to the decision.
The decision, which is on beefing up the guarantee system for
rural compulsory education, also orders raising the basic standard
for public expenses of rural primary and high schools, guaranteeing
funds for schoolhouse maintenance and guaranteeing timely
disbursement of wages to teachers.
It says the central government will share the cost for
schoolhouse maintenance in the western and central regions with
local governments.
"Various localities and departments should give priorities to
the development of rural compulsory education and strive to address
the problem of inadequate input to ensure sustained and health
development of the sector," said the decision.
In recent years, China has beefed up support of rural compulsory
education, which lacks adequate funds and high-quality teachers.
Rate of dropouts is high in many rural schools.
(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2005)