All freshmen from China quake zones in college: ministry
22/9/2008 16:19
All eligible freshmen from areas hit by the May 12 earthquake have
enrolled in colleges and universities around the nation with government
assistance, China's Ministry of Education said today. For students from
families left financially vulnerable as a result of the 8.0-magnitude quake,
"special green channels" were opened to enable them to enter college without
having to pay fees. Some were even given financial support according to
government regulations," the ministry said. The ministries of finance and
education issued directives that impoverished students from the worst-hit areas
would be exempt from tuition and boarding fees. For freshmen, the government
would also offer basic living subsidies, packages of daily necessities and
school supplies, and part-time job opportunities. According to the Ministry
of Education, the colleges also phoned every freshman in quake-hit areas to
learn their family situation and give them encouragement. They offered subsidies
for students' travel expenses and provided counseling for those in need. The
quake, which struck southwestern Sichuan and neighboring provinces, left more
than 80,000 dead or missing, according to the latest official figures. It was
the worst quake to hit China in more than three decades.
Xinhua
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