Shanghai's decision to eradicate school fees for students without hukou - permanent residency permits - is a significant step forward to creating equal opportunities for education for all Chinese children.

But, being one of the country's wealthiest cities, Shanghai should have prompted the move much earlier, rather than meeting the central government's deadline at the last minute.

Changchun, situated in northeast China's Jilin province, abolished fees for migrant children back in 2004. The fees for non-local students have long been regarded as a form of big-city discrimination against children from less developed regions.