Central China's Hunan
Province will raise 220 million yuan (about US$26.5 million)
this year, helping students meet China's education requirement,
said a provincial official Tuesday.
The money will ensure that the 700,000 students from
poverty-stricken families can receive their compulsory nine years
of schooling, said the provincial schooling donation center.
The official also said that if the money can be raised in time,
the province will reach its target of providing compulsory
education for all students, two years ahead of the schedule.
Statistics from the provincial government show that the
provincial government will raise 73.3 million yuan, city and county
governments will raise 56.4 million yuan. The rest will be made up
by non-government channels.
According to different poverty degrees, the money raised will be
used to pay the schooling or the boarding fees for those in need,
said the official.
(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2005)