About 84 percent of respondents to a recent survey in Guangdong province consider it necessary to extend compulsory education.

The survey was conducted by Guangzhou-based Canton Public Opinion Research Center, which interviewed 2,000 urban residents across the province in August.

Seventy-two percent of those polled believed the local authorities were financially equipped for such a move, while 7 percent disagreed.

About 53 percent said if compulsory education is extended, it should include both pre-school and senior middle school, 29 percent supported an extension to senior middle school only and 14 percent an extension only to pre-school.

Compulsory education in China covers primary school and junior middle school, totaling nine years.