China provides schooling for about 580,000 disabled, mentally-retarded kids

Source: Xinhua | 09-12-2008 17:35

BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- China is offering education to more than 580,000 disabled and mentally-retarded children but about 227,000 are still out of school, according to the China's Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) here Friday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) talks with students at Gaomiao  Middle School in Qinghua Town of Bo'ai County under Jiaozuo  City, central China's Henan Province. President Hu Jintao  made an inspection tour in Henan Province from Sept. 8 to  Sept. 10.(Xinhua/Ju Peng)

The children are studying in 1,667 special education schools and 2,803 special education courses in ordinary schools, said the CDPF in a press release.

Among them, about 4,978 are high school students. About 5,200 disabled students have been enrolled in universities and 1,086 went to colleges of special education.

The country also worked to provide vocational training for disabled people. About 730,000 of them have been trained in around6,000 vocational training institutions.

Last year, the fund, raised through the country's welfare lottery, supported 32,000 disabled kids from low-income families to go to school.

Among those having no access to schooling, 50,000 are mentally challenged and another 50,000 with body or limb deformity, the most two groups compared to other disabilities.

Editor:Zhang Ning