The program, jointly initiated by ministries of education, finance and agriculture, would utilize biogas and solar energy technologies in constructing toilets, drinking water and garbage treatment facilities.

Most students in primary and middle schools in the country's poor rural areas are still using open-air lavatories with poor sewage treatment systems or suffering from a lack of such facilities, said Wang Xuming, spokesman with the Ministry of Education.

"The fund of the program will be covered by both central and local governments," he said.

Wang, however, failed to give the regions the pilot program covered and the amount of investment needed.

"The pilot program will raise the quality of school life in rural areas and ensure health and safety," Wang said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2008)