China to Further Expand College Enrollments

Chinese universities and colleges plan to enroll a total of 1.8 million students this year, up 12.5 percent over last year, according to the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC).

The enlarged enrollment is expected to help stimulate consumer enthusiasm and ease employment pressure, sector insiders said, hoping that it can also promote the country's reform in the higher education sector.

In order to delegate more decision-making power to universities, the State Council, China's cabinet, has decided to allow provincial governments to set their own annual enrollment plans according to local situation and needs.

The SDPC has allocated the proceedings of four billion yuan of treasury bonds for the enrollment program over the past two years.

Sources also predict that the actual number of college enrollments this year will most probably surpass two million in the end.



People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/