Statistics show that the number of students going abroad under the age of 18 is increasing. Last year about forty percent of the total students who studied abroad were still in primary and secondary school. In some large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the ratio of students studying abroad under 18 is even higher at about 60 percent.

The Australian embassy in Beijing issued 104 visas for primary and middle school students for the 1995 school year. However, during the 1998 school year the number rose to 620. This number is believed to reflect the mentality of some Chinese parents who are putting too much expectations on overseas education.

However, many educational experts call on these parents to take a cautious attitude towards overseas study. They point out that China's compulsory education is as good as that of most advanced countries. The Chinese Vice Minister of Education Wen Yu said that young children are not apt for studying abroad. She remarked that most children under 18 are not mature enough to gain the benefits from this type of studying.

Meanwhile foreign educational experts who are currently attending the Beijing 99' International Education Exhibition also voiced their disagreement of young students studying abroad.

Chinese law stipulates that children between the ages of 6 to 16 must receive a nine-year compulsory education. Like most countries around the world, China does not support young children studying abroad.(CCTV)