China's State Development and Reform Commission on Sunday publicized a "blacklist" of eight schools, which were accused of charging exorbitant tuition fees totaling some 22.7 million yuan (nearly 3 million U.S. dollars).

The eight schools, four colleges and four middle schools, were exposed in the third round of nationwide inspections on educational charges conducted by the Commission, in a move to standardize the country's education charges.

"The eight schools have seriously violated the state policy on educational charges, and we are handling the problem," said an official with the ministry-level Commission.

The official added that any schools charging irrational fees should be exposed and punished, and the public is welcome to report such problems to educational departments and price administrations.

Despite more studying opportunities they have created for the country's youth, China's educational reforms have also brought students higher tuition fees, which are heavy financial burdens on their families.

Standardizing tuition fees is one of the measures China is taking to ease the expense of education.

(Source: Xinhua)