China's Ministry of Finance announced Monday that it has allocated 2 billion yuan (US$293 million) for urban schools that admit children of migrant workers.

The move aimed for better education for these children, the ministry said.

The ministry urged local authorities to focus on urban schools that admit more such children and with inadequate facilities when arranging funds.

It also ordered tight supervision over the use of the money.

As a large number of rural migrants flocked to cities, China had about 20 million children of migrant workers living in cities, according to the Children's Foundation of China.

However, these children often face problems to get education after they move to cities with their parents.

The central government revised in 2006 the Compulsory Education Law and reiterated the obligation of city governments to provide education to migrant children.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2009)