Shanghai will strictly carrry out its financial aid policy to prevent any needy students from quitting school due to financial problems, Shanghai Education Commission (SEC) reaffirmed with the new school semester is to kick off next week.

SEC will take out a certain proportion of tuition fees it collects to set up the aid fund to help the needy, who account for 3 to 5 percent of the city's total students.

According to the aid policy, half or zero tuition fees will be granted to parentless students who are brought bup by relatives and those whose laid-off parents meet the low-income standard as well as students whose parents are handicapped. Children of martyrs are free of tuition fees.

In addition, needy students could opt to pay their tuition fees in installment or apply for subsidies as well.

The financial aid office affiliated to Shanghai Bureau of Civil Affairs is reponsible of gathering information of the needy family.  After auditing, the needy list will be sent to the corresponding schools, which will deliver the aid to the students.