The Ministry of Education said some colleges are allowed to determine enrollment ratios based on gender for certain majors in consideration of national interest.

The statement came on Oct 15 in response to a query from Beijing Zhongze Women's Legal Counseling and Service Center, an NGO focusing on women's rights.

Lawyers Lu Ping and Huang Yizhi from the center asked the ministry on July 9 for information on what majors are allowed to have gender-ratio enrollment plans in the 2012 the national college entrance exam. Lawyers also asked for reasons for the gender-ratio enrollments.

The ministry replied that only three types of majors are authorized to have gender ratios on their enrollment plans: military and national defense, marine and mining, as well as some non-common foreign language majors.

The ministry said all enrollment information has been published on its official website in advance.