The time when nine-year compulsory education is completely free is different in different regions. In 2006, all primary and secondary school students in rural compulsory education in the western region were exempted from tuition and miscellaneous fees. In 2007, all primary and middle school students in rural compulsory education in the central and eastern regions were exempted from tuition and miscellaneous fees. Starting from the fall semester of 2008, all students in urban compulsory education will be exempted from tuition and miscellaneous fees nationwide.

Extended data:

On February 24th, 2005, the State Council issued and implemented the Notice of the State Council on Deepening the Reform of Rural Compulsory Education Funding Guarantee Mechanism. The main content of deepening the reform of rural compulsory education funding guarantee mechanism is that "all students in rural compulsory education stage are exempted from tuition and fees, and students from poor families are provided with textbooks free of charge, and the living expenses of boarding students are subsidized".

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-compulsory education