China had set up 1,551 special education schools for blind, deaf and mentally handicapped children by the end of 2003, a rise of 11 over 2002, according to sources with the Ministry of Education on International Children's Day, which falls on June 1.

Last year, 48,800 disabled children were admitted to those special schools, 4,100 less year on year. In 2003, 364,700 disabled children were in special education schools, dropping 9,800 from the previous year, according to official figures.

Students in blind children schools totaled 38,300 in 2003, students in deaf children schools 109,800, and students in mentally retarded children schools 216,600.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2004)