Ministry of Finance: Increase support to enhance the operational capability of special education schools.

To implement the deployment requirements of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee on strengthening the development of special education and making it universally accessible, the Ministry of Finance will further increase its support for special education schools. In 2025, a total of 4.25 billion yuan will be allocated, an increase of 610 million yuan from the previous year, an increase of 16.8%. Firstly, the subsidy standard will be increased. For the spring semester of 2025, local support will raise the per capita public expenditure subsidy standard for special education schools at the compulsory education stage and disabled students attending regular classes from 6,000 yuan per student per year to 7,000 yuan, benefiting approximately 910,000 disabled students. The required funds will be jointly borne by the central and local governments. Secondly, ensure that the funds are in place. Provincial-level financial departments are required to play a coordinating role effectively, supervise and guide municipal and county financial departments to allocate public funds in a timely and full amount according to regulations, strictly prohibit delayed or withheld funds, and strictly prohibit misappropriation, embezzlement, interception, or withholding of funds to ensure that the policy of raising standards is implemented. Thirdly, improve hardware facilities. The Ministry of Finance will continue to allocate 500 million yuan in special education subsidies to support local efforts to improve the teaching conditions of special education schools, provide special education equipment, facilities, and instruments, and promote inclusive education. In the next step, the Ministry of Finance will thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, support and guide local governments to further increase investment, optimize expenditure structure, gradually increase the level of financial support for special education schools, improve the level of school management, and create good conditions for disabled children to receive high-quality education.