By the end of 2004, more than 6.4 million rural children of compulsory education age were living in cities with their parents.

The amended Compulsory Education Law, which comes into effect today, contains a new provision that ensures the right to education for children of migrant workers no matter where they live.

The provision stipulates that when both parents or legal guardians are migrant workers living and working with their children in locations other than where the family is registered, local governments where they live and work must provide for the child's education.

However, the likelihood that these children will move often makes it difficult for some cities to satisfy the demand.

Numerous private schools for migrant children have been established in cities but and they are under constant attack for being ill equipped, lacking basic infrastructure and qualified teachers to guarantee the quality of education.

The Compulsory Education Law was promulgated in 1986 and the revised Compulsory Education Law aims to give children in both cities and the countryside nine years of free compulsory education.

By the end of 2004, more than 6.4 million rural children of compulsory education age were living in cities with their parents. Another 22 million rural children remain in their rural homes, while their parents work in cities, according to the Ministry of Education.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)