Jiangsu strives for educational modernization

East China's Jiangsu province held a conference on education in its capital Nanjing on May 16.

A province with deep roots in education, Jiangsu has yielded tangible results from its consistent dedication to the field.

Lou Qinjian, the provincial Party secretary, said Jiangsu should stand firm in its development pattern and people's practical needs so as to reach the goal of leading the country's educational modernization progress and realizing a comprehensively modernized educational system in the province by 2035.

Lou said moral education should be the first and foremost goal, supported by flexible but targeted measures to integrate the social environment with students' cognitive and psychological abilities.

He also called on effective measures be taken in preschool education, allowing every child to go to a nearby and affordable kindergarten. Compulsory education should develop towards a high-quality and balanced end to narrow the gap between different areas, especially between urban and rural areas.

As for vocational education, the Party secretary promoted the integration of industry and education. Jiangsu's industrial structure has been elevated to medium and high end in recent years and students are therefore better suited to combining academic learning with practical experience.

Lou recommended the higher education sector focus on developing more top-tier schools and disciplines and solidify its leading role in innovation.