All the universities in northwest China's Shaanxi Province have been ordered to slash the cost of food to help poorer students.

Each dish will cost no more than 1 yuan (12.5 U.S. cents) and soups are free. A meal consisting of two steamed buns, one portion of bean curd and a soup will cost a student less than 20 U.S. cents.

Liu Gaomin, an official with the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education, said that many students in the arid northwest province were poor and "they could only eat better if universities provide more options at low prices."

The department issued the order after a recent investigation into university dining halls, which found some universities had hiked food prices.

Liu said, "Some dining halls were selling a portion of shredded potato at 1.5 yuan (19 U.S. cents) even though the cost is less than 1 yuan."

A student surnamed Hao, from the Xi'an Fanyi University, said that there were very few cheap food options and some of the poorer students chose to work part-time in the dining hall in return for free meals.

Liu Tian, from the Xi'an International Studies University, said there were no more than three options for lunch.

But very poor students with Liu's university can apply for a living allowance of up to 1,500 yuan (US$187.5) a year, which is put on to a dining card.

In China, families have to pay at least 8,000 yuan (US$975.6) every year for their child's college education, forcing farmers to shell out years of income.

Statistics from the Ministry of Education show China now has 15.62 million college students, of whom three million come from poor backgrounds.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2006)