Education and Vocational Training for Skills Development in China

xpansion of education and education was achieved in cities, and reduced to 4.8%. Eadult literacy have been among adult illiteracy reduced to less than China’s remarkable educational 10%. Phase 3, 2000-2007, focused on achievements. It began enforcing equality of access, and expanding a nine-year compulsory education Phase 2, 1992-2000, aimed at education and literacy to poor and less system in 1986, and by 2011 had education for all and eradication of developed regions. Specific attention achieved 100% enrollment and illiteracy. It also focused on improving was given to regions in Western China, reduced adult illiteracy to 1.08%. Its the quality of education. A three step rural areas, women, and minorities compulsory education and illiteracy process was instituted, establishing to improve access to education by eradication (CEIE) program was implemented in four phases, 1986- 1991, 1992-2000, 2000-2007, and The Government of China sees education as a 2008-2011. long-term strategic priority, and has continued Phase 1, 1986-1991, established compulsory education for children to improve quality and expand its focus, and adult literacy programs. Initially, the law provided for nine years of emphasizing science education and talent compulsory education for all children at age six. By 1988, regulations were development. passed providing literacy education for all illiterate citizens over the age of fifteen, except for those with targets of 40-45% education coverage disadvantaged groups. In 2006 all learning disabilities. In 1991, 90% of by 1996, 60-65% by 1998, and 85% by education tuition fees were abolished the population had received primary 2000. By the end of 2000, more than in regions of Western China, and in education, and primary school 80% of the population had received 2007 public funding was extended to enrollment of school age students nine years of education and the cover all rural education, benefiting reached 97%. Universal secondary national adult illiteracy rate had been over 150 million students. By 2007, 99% of the population had access to nine years of education, junior middle FINANCING EDUCATION school enrollment was 98% and adult • Public finance of compulsory education was introduced gradu- illiteracy was reduced to 3.58%. ally as tax and other reforms increased the availability of funding. Phase 4, 2007-2011, aimed at • To meet funding shortfalls, local governments initially mobilized achieving universal education community support and financial contributions, particularly for throughout China, with special disadvantaged students. attention on hard to reach populations. From 2008, free compulsory education • Compulsory education is now publicly financed by national and has been provided throughout the provincial governments throughout China. Continued on back... Continued from page 1 VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 2014 country. In 2011, the 42 poor counties • 11,900 secondary vocational schools had 18.03 million stu- that had lagged behind others passed dents and accounted for 44% of total high school admissions. national acceptance tests for provision • 1,327 higher vocational schools had 10.07 million students of nine years of education and adult and accounted for 46% of total higher education admissions. literacy. 100% national enrollment was achieved and the national adult literacy was reduced to 1.08%. Vocational education is also a have started their own companies. strategic priority. The education The Government of China has also The Government of China sees system gives equal emphasis to used vocational training to promote education as a long-term strategic vocational and academic education. equal opportunity for education, priority, and has continued to Vocational education is geared to providing training for farmers, rural improve quality and expand its the demands of the private sector migrant workers, former soldiers, focus, emphasizing science education through the participation of industry the unemployed and the disabled. In and talent development. It has also in training steering committees and 2013, the central government provided focused on improving the quality US$3.7 billion of the total vocational of education through enhanced education budget of US$41.02 billion, training, performance pay, and granting scholarships, stipends and rotation of teachers in remote areas, The gap between waiving fees. as well as increased supervision and construction of facilities. National regions, rural and Quality improvement is a key education policies have been focus of education and vocational implemented through region specific urban areas, and training. Throughout China, physical planning, differentiated guidance to infrastructure for education has been meet local conditions, and a step-by- gender has been upgraded, and distance education step approach. closed. programs have increased the The gap between regions, rural and availability of high quality materials. urban areas, and gender has been National curriculums and standards closed. By 2010, the gap between have been introduced, teaching primary school enrollment and the establishment of “school-based qualifications improved, and the ratio completion in rural and urban areas, factories” and “factory-based schools”. of teachers to students increased. and between developed and under Schools, teachers and curricula Recognizing that educational developed regions, was reduced to less adhere to professional standards, and achievement is also dependent on the than one percentage point. Primary a national management system tracks ability of students to fully participate, school enrollment among minority all students. Innovations in both financial assistance for students groups is now close to the national content and teaching methods are from disadvantaged families has average and over a dozen minority continuously adopted, and reports on been expanded and school nutrition groups have achieved a higher level of quality of teaching are released on an programs introduced in rural areas. education than the national average. annual basis. Gender parity has been reached in China is keen to share its experience Vocational training has led to primary school enrollment. In 2014, of rapidly expanding education employment. Over the past nine years, 80% of children of rural migrant coverage and quality with others the employment rate of secondary workers were enrolled in public through cooperation activities, staff vocational school graduates has been schools in migrant destinations, exchanges, teacher and technical over 95%, and that of higher vocational and special education provision is training, curriculum development school graduates over 90%. 3.3% of available for students with disabilities. and formulation of standards. g higher vocational school graduates

Experience with China’s Literacy and Compulsory Education, and Experience with the Development of Vocational Education in China, China Development Bank