SHANGHAI, May 22 -- East China Normal University announced yesterday that students in its education department will be given first shot at overseas study opportunities, and graduates will receive help finding a job.

Those incentives are the latest attempts by ECNU to attract top students to become teachers.

In March, the school announced that education students will be exempt from paying tuition and given living allowances if they sign a contract agreeing to teach for at least 10 years after graduation. Five other schools across the country will offer the same rewards.

"All the preferential policies are designed to foster high-level professionals who are devoted to a career in education," said university president Yu Lizhong.

The school said it will set aside 95 percent of the 1,000 spots open for education majors this year for applicants from underdeveloped central and western regions of China.

Students will be offered a teaching job - normally at elementary schools in their home town - directly after graduation.

Graduates will also be eligible to apply for Master's programs in education immediately after graduation, instead of waiting until they have three years work experience, as was necessary in the past.