Since 2002, the number of Chinese citizens studying abroad has exceeded 100,000 every year. In 2005, there were 118,500 people studying abroad, of which 106,500 were doing so at their own expense.

Chinese studying abroad at their own expense generally find themselves in a good situation, but some problems still exist, said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Education

He said that some overseas schools are not up to standard, and that parents who blindly pursue an overseas education for their child often fail to be adequately selective about the institution in which they enroll their child.

According to the statistics, 50 percent of self-financed study-abroad students arrange their placement through an agency, with this percentage increasing to above 70 in some areas.

By People's Daily Online