Education subsidy to kids of migrant workers in Shanghai

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-25 09:58

SHANGHAI -- Over 3,900 children of migrant workers in four private schools in Shanghai have begun to enjoy the same education subsidy as those of permanent city residents - still an exceptional example in China.

The four schools for children of migrant workers in the Pudong New District of Shanghai have recently been covered in government-subsidized compulsory education, after the schools' status was recognized by the government as eligible corporate bodies for teaching.

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Cao Xikang, director of the Social Development Bureau of the Pudong New District said that the district approves 1,900 yuan (US$256) in annual subsidy for children of permanent residents to complete schooling for their nine years of compulsory education. The policy has been extended to children of migrant workers this year.

China has about 150 million migrant workers in cities. Children of the migrant workers are either left behind in rural homes or live with their parents in cities. However, those who study in cities do not enjoy the same tuition policy for schooling as city residents, as the policy is seen as a welfare benefit for permanent residents.

Pudong is an affluent district in Shanghai, China's financial center, where the local government's education expenditure is one of the highest in China.

"There are 23 schools set up privately to enroll children of migrant workers in Pudong. Many of these schools operate like unregistered private businesses, which profit from collecting school fees and evade government's supervision," said Cao, when explaining why only four schools were given the subsidies.

He said that the government subsidies were earmarked directly to the four schools' bank accounts to cover the students' tuition, since the schools have opened their financial accounts for the government's viewing.

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