China is implementing the largest program of vocational
education in the world, Premier Wen Jiabao said.
Wen's remarks were part of a speech that was delivered at a
national conference on vocational education held in Beijing last
Monday, and published on Sunday.
"China will expand the enrollment of secondary vocational
education to equal that of regular high school education in the
next five years," Wen said. "By the end of 2010, the enrollment of
higher vocational education should account for at least half of the
entire enrollment of institutions of higher learning."
The country will give equal attention to vocational education as
well as regular elementary and higher education, he said.
"The State Council has decided to earmark 10 billion yuan (about
US$1.23 billion) in the coming five years to support vocational
education," Wen said, explaining that this will be included in the
11th Five-year Program for Economic and Social Development
(2006-2010).
The investment will be used to build vocational training bases,
improve education facilities and provide financial support to
students from poor families, Wen said.
Wen also encouraged all sectors of society to develop vocational
education, saying that businesses are major agents of vocational
education.
Wen highlighted that China is faced with two problems: a low
quality workforce, and a dearth of skilled technicians, who only
account for a third of the total workforce.
"The low quality personnel and scarcity of high quality
technicians have greatly affected China's innovation, resulting in
low-end products, high energy consumption and frequent industrial
accidents," he said.
Chinese cities turn out a labor force of 24 million each year,
and there is a large surplus labor force from the rural areas,
making it necessary to develop vocational education.
Due to limited educational resources, each year more than 10
million junior middle school graduates cannot enter senior high
schools, several million high school graduates cannot enter
colleges, and about one million college graduates cannot find
jobs.
(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2005)