BEIJING — Around 138 million Chinese students will benefit from a system that ensures funds for compulsory education beginning in 2016, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Nov 26.

Wang Dinghua, a MOE official in charge of compulsory education, said on Nov 26 that China has about 138 million students at the nine-year compulsory education stage.

According to a program ensuring urban and rural compulsory education funds, the government finance will allocate 600 yuan ($94) in public funds for each pupil in central and eastern regions on average every year and 650 yuan for that of eastern regions starting in the spring semester of 2016.

“State financing will benefit all students in compulsory education,” said Wang.

From the spring semester of 2017, tuition, miscellaneous fees, and textbooks for all students in compulsory education will be free of charge. Students from families with economic difficulties will be subsidized with allowances for living expenses.

About 13 million children from migrant workers’ families, over 30 million students at boarding schools, and more than 5 million pupils in village primary schools will benefit from the new policies, according to Wang.

In addition, financial support to students with physical challenges will be eight times of that of ordinary students, Wang added.