From the spring semester this year, tuition and miscellaneous fees in rural schools of China's central and eastern regions will also be abolished, according to a government circular.

It means rural kids in all parts of China will enjoy a better chance to complete nine-year compulsory education. Tuition and miscellaneous fees in rural schools of the western region had already been scrapped from the spring semester of last year.

The circular, issued by a national office of rural compulsory education, also pledged continuing to provide free textbooks and subsidies to students from poor families.

It said rural schools shall not collect any charges from students other than those for textbooks, workbooks and lodging.

It said charges for auxiliary teaching materials, stationery, school uniforms, insurance, regular physical examinations, quarantine, drinking water and other school service charges are also waived from the coming spring semester.

The cost will be jointly shouldered by the central government and local governments, the circular said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2007)