The Ministry is now encouraging colleges and universities across China to enroll more students over the next decade. By the year 2010, there are expected to be more chances for 15 per cent of the high school graduates. That means 18 million more people getting a higher education.

Chinese officials are confident that China can reach this goal. Ji Baocheng, an Education Ministry official, said it is quite possible that China will even reach the goal two or three years early.

He also said that by making higher education available to more high school graduates, spending on education-related business is expected to get a real boost.

But Ji Baocheng criticised the commercialisation of the higher education. He said that it will harm students from poverty-stricken areas. It will keep them from getting a higher education because of increased costs. (CCTV)