BEIJING - All students from rural families will receive free-of-charge education at secondary vocational schools, beginning this autumn semester.

Zhang Shaochun, a vice-minister of finance, announced the news at a meeting on secondary vocational schooling, which was jointly held by the Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in Beijing.

Students will be taught knowledge and skills relating to the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Zhang urged provincial government departments in charge of finance to ensure the availability of funds for the implementation of central government policies on secondary vocational education.

Minister of Education Yuan Guiren, who also spoke at the conference, asked local educational departments and secondary vocational schools to strictly follow government polices and regulations. This is to ensure that the government subsidies are distributed to students, on time and sufficiently.