Free teacher education in the six normal universities directly under the Ministry of Education (MOE) from this school year pledged by Premier Wen Jiabao's in his government work report at the current National People's Congress (NPC) session has drawn wide public concern.

The six normal universities designated are, namely, Beijing Normal University, Northeast Normal University, East China Normal University, Huazhong Normal University, Southwest China Normal University and Shaanxi Normal University.

Some experts worried that the provincial-level teacher majors may be embarrassed by enrollment drought as they gave no sign to free of charge following the government work report. Sichuan and Yunan Normal Universities both denied near free charge plan.

There are more than 90 universities nationwide enrolling teacher major students. Some NPC members said the free of charge in the six major universities should be extended to wider range.

To tackle the possible enrollment drought in low-tier universities and guide rational application during this year's university admission, educational experts suggested ministry-controlled universities raise admission standards and impose a contract providing teaching responsibility to the students.

Southwest Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University and Beijing Normal University have announced that those who seek free teacher education there must agree, before being admitted, to work as grassroots teachers in China's under-developed areas for several years right after their graduation.

Beijing Normal University said they would give the money back to those current teacher majors who will choose to teach in rural and under-developed areas.

"The students must fulfill their obligations after receiving free education," said a teacher responsible for enrollment of Southwest Normal University. "The problem of teacher drought is serious in the middle and western areas, and the combination of free teacher education and directional job orientation will help."

But other teachers worried the free education may not keep young teachers for long. "It will be a waste of money for the nation if the teachers don't remain at their positions," said a middle school teacher in Sichuan, "Supporting policies must be formed to attract more teachers," he said.

The six designated universities emphasized the beneficiaries of the free charge policy are teacher major students while the non-teacher majors will continue paying the full price as usual.

"What is to be done with the non-teacher majors? That does not mean all of the non-teacher major students can afford the fee," said a netizen of sina.
Among the 56 majors in Northeast Normal University, only 22 of them are teacher majors. In Beijing Normal University it is 22 out of 52.

Beijing Normal University charges English teacher majors 4,800 yuan for tuition and 650 yuan for accommodation fee every school year. With the daily expenditure added, a student has to spend more than 10,000 yuan each year, a huge amount for an ordinary family and unaffordable for a poverty one.

The tuition for teacher major, however, is still less than those of non-teacher majors.