The Ministry of Finance announced on 21 July that it has invested RMB 87.9 billion to improve compulsory education in rural areas. Although the total number of students in rural areas decreased in recent years, the government funding increased by RMB 5.06 billion in 2014, a 6.1 percent increase from 2013. The per student education expenditures in primary schools in central and western China were set at RMB600. The per student education expenditures in junior middle schools in central and western China were set at RMB800. Whereas the funding allocated to each student in primary schools and in junior middle schools in eastern China were set at RMB650 and RMB850 respectively.