A township government in South China's Pearl River Delta has rolled out a plan to offer education subsidies to local residents, helping them cover their tuition fees from kindergarten through postgraduate doctoral studies.

Last September, the government of Shipai township, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, conducted a pilot program in one village and later expanded the free education plan across the township, China Business Weekly reported Wednesday.

The program, the first of its kind in China, reportedly covers the educational expenses of local residents up to 25 years.

China has guaranteed nine years of free compulsory education for pupils and junior high school students since 1986.

In Shipai township, a senior high school student can apply for an annual subsidy of 3,000 yuan (US$439), a junior college student 4,000 yuan (US$585), a college student 6,000 yuan (US$878), a master's degree student 8,000 yuan (US$1,170) and a doctoral candidate 10,000 yuan (US$1,463), according to the local policy.

About 9,500 students are entitled to the subsidies and the township government is expected to spend about 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) on the program.

The policy has won applause in the township.

"Though the subsidy may not mean much to some wealthy families, I'm sure it is a great help to those in poverty," a 25-year-old woman surnamed Li told the Global Times.