A research program on basic education development has started in poverty-stricken areas inhabited by minority ethnic groups in northwest China's Gansu Province, funded by the Furter foundation of the United States.

The program, to be carried out by the Northwest China Teachers' University at a cost of 770,000 yuan (92,771 U.S. dollars), offered by the Furter foundation, is aimed at improving living and studying conditions for students in project schools by ways of training principals and teachers, building libraries, installing art and sports facilities, holding training courses for parents, improving teaching standards and funding for poor girls and students of ethnic minority groups.

The program is also aimed at finding an effective way to promote and improve education in economically less-developed areas in the country.

Professor Wang Jiayi of the Northwest China Teachers' University applied for the sustentation fund in July last year and received an approval later in the same year.
The research program will last through December of 2002.

The Furter foundation is the biggest private foundation in the world, mainly funding research and development programs relating to social progress.