BEIJING -- China invested over 188 billion yuan ($29.7 billion) to help 95.9 million students, from kindergarten-aged to university, in 2017, according to the Ministry of Education.

Students at higher education institutions received 105 billion yuan in support, up nearly 10 percent from the year before, while more than 9 billion yuan was used to help preschool children, an increase of 36.7 percent, said the report.

China spent more than 20 billion yuan to provide free textbooks for 142 million students and 28.5 billion yuan on boarding subsidies for students, according to the Ministry.

The government, at both central and local levels, played a leading role in the educational aid program, while enterprises, social groups as well as individuals donated nearly 13 billion yuan, accounting for 6.89 percent, said the report.

China's educational aid program covers all levels of study, both public and private schools as well as students with financial difficulties, which guarantees those from poor families can receive an education, said Ma Jianbin, an educational aid official at the Ministry.