BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Education has made arrangements for this year's project to enable more students from rural and poor areas to be admitted to major universities, according to a circular on the website of the ministry.

The ministry urges local authorities to arrange relevant work, including student application, qualification review, admission and enrollment, in line with the coronavirus epidemic control measures.

The ministry required universities and colleges to promote the project among students.

Students from designated impoverished counties that have been lifted out of poverty are still eligible to apply for this year's project, according to the circular.

Since its launch in 2012, the project has helped nearly 600,000 students from impoverished households enter key universities and colleges, an official with the ministry said Tuesday.