Gaokao policies remain tough in major cities

More than a dozen Chinese municipalities and provinces have announced new policies regarding national college entrance exams for non-local students, as the Ministry of Education's year-end deadline draws near.

And all eyes are again on Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province, the top 3 destinations for Chinese students looking to better their chances in larger cities. CCTV's reporter Wu Haojun finds out what new policies are in store for so-called "migrant students".

It's an understatement to say a lot is at stake for Chinese high school seniors waiting to take the Gaokao or college entrance exam. It's a gruelling test taken by about nine million students to enter the country's universities.

But for many students especially in large cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, they'll have to jump through hoops just to be eligible for the test.

Xiao Xing, Guangdong High School Senior, said, "I've studied in Guangdong for a long time. I won't be able to adapt if I have to go back because the exams will be different."

Xiao Xing is one of the lucky ones. His parents already have the much coveted residency permit in Guangdong, so he doesn't have to go back to his native Liaoning province to sit the exam.

But there are many less fortunate, according to Guangdong's just-published policies for non-local students - they won't be able to sit the exam in the province until 2016.

Tan Songhua, National Education Advisory Committee, said, "For large cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, because they face a large number of migrant workers, it is understandable that when it comes to the issue of equity in education, they'll have to take things in a slower manner."