BEIJING, June 16 -- China released a regulation on tuition charges on Tuesday, to ensure institutions do not financially exploit parents and students.

The regulation, jointly issued by the Ministry of Education; Ministry of Finance; National Development and Reform Commission; National Audit Office; and State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, stipulated that higher education tuition fees should not surpass 25 percent of the annual average teaching cost for each student.

Institutions must make their charges available to the public. All unauthorized tuition fees will be prohibited, the regulation says.

The regulation also called for more attention on university enrollment, saying admission irregularities, such as preferential treatment for talented students, must be stopped.

The regulation also banned teachers from charging for after-school tutoring for pupils.

Educational institutions at all levels and teachers should not accept cash or gift from students, and misconduct such as embezzlement or bribery will be severely punished in line with law, said the regulation.