Program helps homeless minors go back to school

Ten Chinese ministries, including the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) and the Ministry of Education, have started a nationwide program to help homeless school-age minors return to school.

The program will require local authorities to seek education solutions in accordance with each homeless individual's personal needs and child custody situation, MCA officials told Xinhua at a Children's Day campaign in Beijing on Saturday.

The ministries will also work to improve the system for monitoring cases of school drop-outs and providing timely help for these young people.

According to Dou Yupei, vice minister of civil affairs, 273 child protection centers at the county or district levels were established with funding from the ministry from 2010 to 2012.

The MCA also announced at the campaign that June 19 will be a national open house day for centers that offer assistance to the urban homeless population, an activity it hopes will enhance the public's understanding of their relief work.

China currently has 2,031 centers providing aid for the country's urban homeless, according to MCA data.