CNR:

I'd like to ask about vocational education, which I believe is also a key area of focus for you. As we know, vocational education provides the foundation for cultivating skilled craftspeople. How does the MOE plan to further promote integration between vocational education and general education, between industry and education to cultivate more master craftspeople and highly-skilled workers? Thank you.

Wu Yan:

I'm glad to answer your question. As we all know, advancing Chinese-style modernization requires building a modernized industrial system, which necessitates overcoming a crucial threshold – new industrialization. To promote the new industrialization, we must have an abundant supply of high-quality, skilled professionals. That's why the report to the 20th CPC National Congress incorporated master craftspeople and highly-skilled workers into the contingent of personnel with expertise of strategic importance. Here, I would like to share with you a set of data: Vocational education produces more than 10 million graduates annually. In recent years, more than 70% of new front-line employees in modern manufacturing, strategic emerging industries and modern service industries have come from vocational schools. Among the 40 National Master Artisans of the Year selected by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions over the last four years, 32 graduated from vocational schools. Among the 30 winners of the China Skills Award in 2022, 18 graduated from vocational schools. These figures show that vocational schools serve as the primary training ground for national-level master artisans, master craftspeople and highly-skilled workers.

At the National Conference on Education, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed building a vocational education system that is well-integrated with both general education and industry to cultivate high-caliber craftsmen and skilled talent. Next, we need to focus on the following four aspects.

First, we'll promote the integration of vocational education and general education. Labor education and career orientation programs should be implemented in primary and secondary schools, offering vocational experience and skills-based courses to cultivate students' interest in acquiring technical skills at an early age. At the high school level, we will build a number of comprehensive senior high schools. We will promote the mutual selection of courses and mutual recognition of credits between secondary vocational schools and regular high schools. We'll further improve the content and format of vocational college entrance exams, and optimize the connection between secondary vocational schools, higher vocational colleges, vocational undergraduate programs and application-oriented universities, thus providing students with diverse pathways for growth and development.

Second, we need to deepen the integration of industry and education. This involves strengthening the development of a provincial-level modern vocational education system as well as the city-level industry-education consortiums and industry-specific collaborative communities. We will implement "four areas of cooperation" between government, enterprises, universities and research institutions. This will include collaborative education programs, talent cultivation, employment partnerships, and shared development initiatives. These efforts will strengthen the alignment between skills training and local economic needs while better matching talent development with industry requirements.

Third, we'll improve operational capabilities and training quality in schools. To support technological transformation and industrial upgrading, we will deepen the integration of industry and education and systematically advance reforms in key areas, including disciplines, curricula, teaching materials, faculty and practical training facilities. We will strengthen the development of "five golden aspects" encompassing "golden majors, golden courses, golden teachers, golden bases and golden textbooks."

Fourth, we will create a favorable environment. We will vigorously promote the spirit of model workers, the spirit of work, and the spirit of craftsmanship, fostering a social ethos where "labor is glorious, skills are precious, and creation is great." We will ensure that the idea of "possessing a skill brings lifelong security" becomes deeply rooted in people's minds, make vocational education more attractive, and cultivate more national-level master artisans, master craftspeople and highly-skilled workers for Chinese-style modernization. Thank you.