BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China provided financial support for 95.9 million students nationwide, including pre-school children, in 2017, 5 percent up from 2016, according to the Ministry of Education.

Financial aid for students totaled 188.2 billion yuan (29.6 billion U.S. dollars) in 2017, with a year-on-year increase of 11.45 percent, said Ma Jianbin, vice director of the National Center for Student Financial Aid.

Ma said the student aid system covers all stages of education including public and private schools, and students in financial difficulties, ensuring every student the access to education.

Over the past 11 years, the total amount of national aid has been expanding as fiscal support as well as investment from schools and society continues to grow. The number of students receiving support has been increasing over this period, Ma said.