Upper Limits Set for College Tuition FeesBeijing has set upper limits for college and university tuition fees.The fees, revealed in a circular issued by the city's education committee, and finance and commodity price bureau, will come into force this autumn. Ordinary foreign languages' institutes and medical universities should charge each student no more than 5,000 yuan (US$602) per year. While prestigious language and medical universities should charge no more than 6,000 yuan (US$723), Beijing Youth Daily reported last week. Ordinary engineering and polytechnic universities should charge each student no more than 4,600 yuan (US$554) per year. Prestigious universities in these fields should charge no more than 5,500 yuan (US$663). Other ordinary colleges and universities should charge each student no more than 4,200 yuan (US$506) per year, with the rest of the prestigious universities capping charges at 5,000 yuan (US$602). The three departments will supervise Beijing's colleges and universities to avoid inconsistent fee collection. Those who randomly raise the cost of tuition will be punished according to the Price Law, the newspaper reported. Students involved in teacher training, agriculture and forestry, physical culture, navigation and minority culture will continue to be exempt from paying tuition fees. Sources from the Ministry of Education said that students studying these subjects have been enjoying free tuition over the past few years, as the country needs those skills for its economic and social development. However, more students are attracted to the fashionable subjects of foreign languages, computer science and business management. Colleges and universities are still required to help ensure poor students can finish their studies, including reducing or waiving fees and offering loans or subsidies. |
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