China's largest commercial center Shanghai Municipality is to provide citizens a total of 600 million yuan (75 million U.S. dollars) of education allowance in 2006.

According to the city's work conference on labor and social security held on Wednesday, the allowance will benefit 300,000 local people, especially laid-offs from state-run enterprises and workers in need to improve their vocational skill.

The municipal government will establish training allowance accounts for the citizens with an average deposit of 2,000 yuan (250 dollars) per person.

With the allowance, citizens will be able to receive a variety of professional training programs, which are expected to be launched by the government in accordance with the need of local employment market.

Source: Xinhua