China's Ministry of Finance Thursday announced an injection of an extra 10.5 billion yuan (US$1.58 billion) from the central budget this year to support nine-year compulsory education for all students in the country's rural areas.

This was in addition to the 63.52 billion yuan already earmarked this year, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

In a breakdown, 8.98 billion yuan would be used for general expenses, including maintenance of normal school operations and heating, as well as purchases of storage and sanitization devices, according to the statement.

The rest, 1.54 billion yuan, would be allocated for allowances to students from poor families in boarding schools in the central and western regions.

According to China's Compulsory Education Law, Chinese children are entitled to nine years of free education, covering primary and junior high schools.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2010)