Shandong unveils plan to modernize education system

The Shandong provincial government recently released its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) for education.

The document pinpoints major tasks that will be undertaken over the next five years, focusing on the balanced development of basic education, improvement in modern vocational education and high quality development of higher education.

By 2020, the gross enrollment rates of kindergartens, high schools and higher education will reach 85 percent, 98 percent and 50 percent respectively, while the net attendance rate for nine-year compulsory education will remain above 99 percent, according to the circular that sets the educational goals for the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

The plan also pledges to increase the average education level of the working-age population from 10.5 to 12 years.

In terms of vocational education, the plan emphasizes the cultivation of students' practical skills through cooperation between schools and enterprises. The plan also encourages the implementation of a flexible educational system that allows students to take a break from their courses to gain work experience.

Graduates of vocational colleges will receive diplomas and job qualification certificates, according to the plan.

To promote the development of high quality higher education, the province will focus on building six of the best performing undergraduate institutions under its administration into universities able to compete with the best schools in China. The plan also calls for the creation of 20 world-class academic courses and 10 top-class application-oriented universities in the province.