Although slowing growth in fiscal revenues as a result of the country's economic slowdown has made it difficult to significantly increase public expenditure on education, the importance of equal opportunities in basic education justifies such a move.

Therefore, the State Council's announcement last week that China will set a unified benchmark for public funds per student in rural and urban areas, starting next year, is to be welcomed.

With all students also having their compulsory education tuition and textbook fees exempted from 2017, it is estimated that the move will cost central and local governments more than 15 billion yuan ($2.35 billion) over the next two years.