Most science museums in Shanghai will open free of charge for school trips starting later this year, city officials said Friday.

Ten museums will drop admission charges for primary and middle school students on school field trips this year, including the Shanghai Tunnel Science and Technology Museum, and more are expected to join the program in the future.

The plan won't include the Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, however.

"Hopefully, every primary and middle school students in the city will benefit from the project," said Wang Jianhua, an official in charge of popular science work at the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.

The museums will open free for all of the 1.6 million primary and middle school students in the city, including those at international schools, he said.

"Museum-based education will be more attractive and interesting to children than classroom education," said Zhang Yi, a Chinese teacher at Shanghai Singapore International School.

"We encourage school teachers to bring children to the insects museum during biology classes and the tunnel museum during physics classes," said Wang.

The city is home to more than 10 specific science museums, including the Shanghai Wind Power Museum in Nanhui District and the Shanghai Glasses Museum in Zhabei District.

The city government plans to build about 40 new museums by the end of 2010.

A recent survey conducted by the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology shows that only 10 percent of locals are scientifically literate.
 
(Shanghai Daily November 18, 2006)