Education: Free text books for China's rural students

China is provide free textbooks to all students in rural areas in nine-year compulsory education, Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili said on Thursday.

The government has been providing free textbooks for poor rural students, and such a policy will be expanded to all the 150 million rural students in primary and junior high schools, said Chen at a national conference on compulsory education expenditure.

She urged local governments to make preparations for the new move and ensure enough fund to be allocated for the compulsory education.