The operational costs of schools are not always reasonable. For example, it is reported that Renmin University of China spent more than 1 million yuan ($128,057) to install a sightseeing lift and glass curtain in a three-story dining building, Liaocheng University spent more than 3 million yuan ($384,172) to build its gate. If all these were included as operational costs of higher education, the costs would be very high.

Higher education is an issue concerning national quality and social fairness. We should let the majority of the public be able to afford it. The tuition standard should be calculated according to national income per capita. In other words, we should find out how much we can pay for higher education first and then decide how much we can spend to run the universities. We should cut the garment according to the figure act as circumstance allows.

Oriental Morning Post: It is an indisputable fact that charges for higher education are a bit too high today. Middle- and low-income families are facing difficulties in affording their children's schooling. The new method shows the authorities' determination to curb random fee charges. But it may not bring the expected results.

Unlike competitive enterprises, universities and colleges are part of a quasi-monopoly sector in China. Once costs become a base for deciding tuition levels, a monopoly premium will appear. Schools may even waste resources to keep costs high and tuition high.

It is not realistic for the State to shoulder all higher education expenditures. The government, schools and the public should all bear the costs. But the government can provide more channels, such as student loans, to ease the burden on the public.

Public schools should open their gates to students from low-income families. There should be subsidies and expense standards for them, while rich families can choose expensive and good private schools.

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