Advertisement

Class fees waived for poor

Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
0

School fees for 600,000 children from poor families in rural and suburban Beijing are to be waived.

From September 1, primary and middle school children from poor families in 10 counties and suburban districts will not need to pay education fees known as za fei, the Beijing Morning Post reported yesterday.

These fees supplement government school allocations to cover teacher salaries and school maintenance. Fees for primary school students range from 40 to 80 yuan (HK$37-HK$75) per semester and are 130 yuan per semester for middle school students. The cost of textbooks, test papers, uniforms and activities are met by parents.

Beijing officials cancelled the fees to comply with China's Compulsory Education Law, according to the report.

Families that earn less than 285 yuan per month will qualify for fee exemptions, the Beijing Morning Post said. These families include 600,000 of the 1.09 million children who receive compulsory education in Beijing.

The fee waiver is good news for Zhenzhuquan primary school in Beijing's rural Yanqing County, said Ms Que, the teaching director. She said about 20 of the 176 children at her school could not afford the 40 yuan per semester. The school usually lets these students delay fees until families can afford to pay.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x