More than 2.2 million rural children who dropped out of school have returned to classrooms in China thanks to Project Hope.

The nationwide charitable program started in 1990 to help school dropouts get back into school, said an education official at a recent national work conference in the field.

In the past 10 years, the country has received over 1.78 billion yuan (214 million US dollars) in donations and sent 2.29million children back to school, according to official statistics.

Donations have helped Chinese education departments at all levels set up 7,549 Hope Primary Schools, the official said.

Starting last year, the project initiated a special program to provide opportunities for the returned pupils to receive further education after they complete elementary school.

Project Hope will carry out diversified educational programs in the next five years including re-training for primary school teachers, on-line education and adult education. (Xinhua)