BEIJING, Feb. 22 -- A Jangsu Province university shrugged off the central government's accusation of tuition overcharges as "nonsense" and said it would "appeal," media reported yesterday.

    The Nanjing Audit University, in the provincial capital Nanjing, overcharged 1.64 million yuan (US$203,802), said a statement by the National Development and Reform Commission on Sunday.

    The statement said NAU and seven other schools across the country illegally raked in more than 22 million yuan (US$2.8 million) in fees.

    Jiang Yuquan, director of NAU's Student Affairs Division, called the accusation "nonsense," the China Youth Daily reported yesterday. Jiang said he couldn't believe his ears and thought it was an "April Fool's joke."

    He said charging 8,500 yuan to those students transferring to the four-year undergraduate program was within the range set by provincial authorities, the news report said.

    The NDRC said the school overcharged 209 students 3,900 yuan each.

    Concerning "sponsorship fees" of 30,000-50,000 yuan NAU charged 19 students in 2004, Jiang said the school did nothing out of line with the central government.

    Central authorities quietly allow universities to enroll students who lack minimum marks in national entrance exams but have "a variety of connections," Jiang said.

    Charging sponsorship fees is common at universities in China, he said, adding it is unfair to single out NAU on sponsorship fees.

(Source: ShanghaiDaily.com)