China says it will abolish tuition fees for 150 million rural students, in a bid to narrow the gap between wealthy coastal provinces and poorer regions.
China is to abolish tuition and other fees for 150 million rural students, in a bid to narrow the gap between wealthy coastal provinces and poorer regions.
The students will be exempt from tuition fees over the course of their compulsory nine-year education.
The students will be exempt from tuition fees over the course of their compulsory nine-year education.
The move would cost 15bn yuan ($1.9bn) a year, the China Daily said, or about 100 yuan ($13) a child.
The move would cost 15bn yuan ($1.9bn) a year, the China Daily said, or about 140 yuan ($18) a child.
China last year abolished fees for 50m students living in western provinces, some of its poorest areas.
But children of rural families who have migrated to China's booming cities will not be included.
RURAL UNREST 6 Nov 2004: Paramilitary troops put down an uprising of 100,000 farmers in Sichuan province10 April 2005: 20,000 peasants drive off more than 1,000 riot police in Huaxi, Zhejiang province11 June 2005: Six farmers die in a fight with armed men in Shengyou, Hebei province29 July 2005: Villagers in Taishi, Guangdong try to oust mayor6 Dec 2005: Police shoot dead protesters in Dongzhou, Guangdong14 Jan 2006: Police break up protest in Sanjiao, Guangdong, over land grabs
The new policy is "part of a major move to relieve the financial burden of farmers and to develop a new countryside," the state-owned newspaper said.
"It is part of a major move to relieve the financial burden of farmers and to develop a new countryside," the state-owned newspaper said.
In the first phase of the programme, which took effect this spring, more than 50m students living in western provinces - some of China's poorest - were exempted.
Money shortage
Money shortage
In theory, Chinese children are offered free education from age six to 15.
In theory, Chinese children are offered education that is free or almost free from age six to 15.
But in practise, cash strapped local authorities and schools charge fees and education taxes which poorer families can find prohibitive.
But in practise, cash strapped local authorities and schools charge extra fees and education taxes.
The move to end fees follows increasing concern at unrest in the countryside and at a growing gap between the rich coastal provinces and poor interior.
Poorer families - and the average income of China's rural residents was 2,936 yuan (US$367) in 2004, according to the National Bureau of Statistics - can find these prohibitive.
The authorities have promised more money and fresh policies to ease the problem, as part of what is officially billed as building a "harmonious society".
The move to end fees follows increasing concern at a growing gap between the rich coastal provinces and poor interior, and at unrest in the countryside.
The authorities have promised more money and fresh policies to ease the problems, as part of what is officially billed as building a "harmonious society".
But many people in rural areas are still living on less than a dollar a day, and rural schooling is seen to lag well behind.
But many people in rural areas are still living on less than a dollar a day, and rural schooling is seen to lag well behind.
Rural unrest, often blamed on illegal land grabs, is also a growing problem.
Rural unrest, often blamed on illegal land grabs, is also a growing problem.
There are thought to be thousands of protests a year across China, with farmers in villages whose land has been taken often directing their anger at corrupt local officials who skim off the profits when it is sold to developers.
There are thought to be thousands of protests a year across China, with farmers in villages whose land has been taken often directing their anger at corrupt local officials who skim off the profits when it is sold to developers.
What is your reaction to this story? Have you had experience of rural unrest or rural poverty in China? Send us your comments.
What is your reaction to this story? Have you had experience of rural unrest or rural poverty in China? Send us your comments.
