All children in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will have access to 15 years of free education from next month, People's Daily reported on Monday.

The northwestern region will make free high school education universal from Dec 1, benefiting 857,200 students, according to the report, citing an implementation plan released by the regional government.

Xinjiang already offers free preschool, primary and junior middle school, but until now only children in Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu and the Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture had access to free high school, after support from the central government.

The report said the region had invested 2.58 billion yuan ($388 million) to promote the implementation plan, to guarantee every child has access to a qualified education.