Across China: Heilongjiang

Higher education too costly

A survey by China's National Bureau of Statistics has shown that 70 percent of parents find it difficult to bear higher education fees for their children. Costs invariably include lodging fees, living expenses, school fees as well as fees for extra classes after school.

The survey, in which 1,220 families from Northeast China's Heilongjiang province took part, questioned parents from all walks of life. The data revealed that 70 percent of those surveyed thought the cost of higher education is too high. Sixty-three percent of respondents spend more than 600 yuan ($88) every month on their child's higher education, which accounts for a large proportion of their income - up to one quarter in some cases.