| China pledges free 9-year education for students in rural west
2006-02-22
Xinhua
China said Tuesday it will exempt primary and junior high school students in
its rural west from tuition and other education expenses this year, pledging to
implement similar policies in other areas starting 2007.
Other beneficial measures outlined in China's first major policy document for
2006 include free textbooks and partial payment of living expenses for students
from impoverished families.
China's economic reform and opening-up drive have greatly boosted the
development of coastal areas over the last 25 years, and in recent years China
has invigorated its vast western inland areas.
China's nine-year compulsory education covers six years in primary school and
three years in junior high school.
The policy document said China will foster better teams of rural teachers and
encourage urban teachers to work part-time in the countryside and standardize
schooling fees to ease the financial burden of farmers.
It called on local governments to raise the overall training and education of
farmers. "To ensure the development of the countryside more capable farmers are
urgently needed," the document said.
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