National assistance system 'helps more students'

• Source: Global Times
• [23:54 August 31 2009]
• Comments

The system that offers financial support to poor college students is becoming more effective because fewer phone calls have been made to the National Center for Student Assistance Administration (NCSAA) telephone hotline.

The hotline received 8,488 calls over the past three years and statistics show 62 percent enquired about funding while 38 percent complained about local colleges that had failed to help poor students.

But such gripes are decreasing and have seen a year-on-year drop from 2006 to 2008 to just 28 percent thanks to better working procedures.

"Poor college students and their parents are more satisfied with the national assistance system," said Ma Wenhua, deputy director of the NCSAA.

Statistics show the government spent 29.3 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) last year to aid college students – up 7.6 percent from the previous year. Around 40 million college students received cash help.

The government said it would ensure that no students dropped out of colleges or universities because of poverty.

The Ministry of Education launched the hotline in 2005, which opens every August 15 to September 15 to offer advice to undergrads who cannot afford tuition fees.

However, some poor families still overlooked what support was available for their undergraduate child, Ma said.

Xinhua