China's State Development and Reform Commission yesterday released a blacklist of eight schools which were accused of charging exorbitant tuition fees totaling RMB22.7 million.Local media report that the eight schools, four colleges and four middle schools, were exposed in the third round of nationwide inspections on educational charges conducted by the Commission.

The schools include the China Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, South China University of Technology, Nanjing Audit University, and Henan Normal University.

"The eight schools have seriously violated the state policy on educational charges, and we are handling the problem," said an official with the ministry-level Commission.

The official added that any schools charging irrational fees should be exposed and punished, and the public is welcome to report such problems to educational departments and price administrations.