High school students from low-income families will receive financial assistance from the Chinese government from this semester.

According to the circular issued jointly by the ministries of finance and education on Sunday, the government plans to offer an average of 1,500 yuan (US$200.59) every year to students from low-income families. The minimum amount will be 1,000 yuan and the maximum amount will be 3,000 yuan based on the situation of students' parents.

The program is expected to cover 20 percent of high school students nationwide but the percentage will vary in different provinces, the circular said.

In the more developed coastal provinces, about 10 percent of students will benefit from the program, while 20 percent in the central provinces and 30 percent in the less developed western provinces.

The percentage could be higher in rural areas, less developed regions and areas inhabited by ethnic minority people, the circular said.

China has a nine-year compulsory education program and the three-year high school education should be funded by students themselves.

According to the circular, besides the state program, high schools are also encouraged to set up scholarships and cut tuition for students in need.

China has launched several policies to help needy students in the past few years, including offering free textbooks to all students from rural areas and state subsidies to needy students in colleges and vocational schools.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2010)