BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao
has called for China's education policy makers to develop practical schemes to
ensure that the poor have equal access to education.
In a just-released speech Wen delivered at a meeting
of the State Council, or the cabinet, in late August, which is to be published
by the People's Daily on Monday, he urged policy makers to take into account
regional economic imbalances and income differentials between urban residents
and farmers, which existed despite the country's tremendous economic
achievements.
Education policies should be based on realities and
reflect thefairly low level of per capita income, he said.
Wealth disparities, developmental imbalances between
urban and rural areas and the huge rural migrant population should all be
considered when forming education policies, he told the meeting, which approved
a 12-year education plan (2009-2020).
Education has a "far-reaching impact" and serves as
the "cornerstone" of national development, according to the released version of
the speech.
To address current economic challenges and tackle
structural economic problems, the country must rely on scientific and
technological progress and raising the quality of the workforce, Wen said.
To ensure that people have equal access to education
is in the public interest and in line with the demands of economic and social
development, he said.
Wen urged policy-makers to carry out "systematic" and
"consistent" education reform and called for pilot programs to test the
feasibility of education plans.
He also urged to build a modern education system with
Chinese characteristics that would integrate world-class education concepts.
Other factors to be considered in education plans
should be thedemographic, industrial and employment structures, according to
Wen.
Wen also stressed that vocational education was
crucial for economic development and job-creation, as China was in dire need of
workers with practical skills.
He said: "Currently, the country should arrange the
scale and subjects of vocational education in line with social demand."
In China, students can go to vocational schools to
learn specialized trades. Such graduates are popular with employers, as they
have practical skills and usually demand lower wages than people with college
degrees. But they don't have high social status.
Wen said such prejudices should be discarded, and
society should raise the salaries and social status of vocational workers.
As for teaching system reform, Wen said curriculums
should reflect the students' abilities and social needs, while reducing their
study burdens.
"Our main teaching method is still 'instill' instead
of 'inspire.' Teachers should teach students to think, live and get along with
others, in addition to knowledge. That is the aim of our education reform."
Wen also addressed key issues including college
education, the school system, teacher development and educational investment.
The 12-year education plan, which Wen called "a tough
mission,"was drawn up in consultation with experts and reflected advice from
school officials, teachers, students and parents.
Premier urges scientists to help fight
global financial crisis
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- "Our confidence to face the global financial crisis
should rely on science, knowledge and talented people," Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao said Saturday.
He made the remark during a visit to Beijing-based
Zhongguancun Science Park, known as China's Silicon Valley. Full story
Premier reassures university students
on jobs amid financial crisis
BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao has pledged to university students that the government would seek to
provide more jobs for graduates and "put the issue of graduate employment
first."
"Your difficulties are my difficulties, and if you are
worried, I am more worried than you," Wen told the students at the Beijing
University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Full story
Premier Wen: China can keep steady
economic growth by overcoming financial crisis
FUKUOKA, Japan, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- China can not only
maintain a steady and relatively fast economic growth through efforts and
getting over difficulties, but also elevate its economy to a new level by
overcoming the ongoing financial crisis, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here
Saturday. Full story
Premier Wen urges firms to keep
confidence amid turmoil
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) talks
with workers of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in
Shanghai, east China Nov. 22, 2008. Wen Jiabao made an inspection tour of
Shanghai Municipality and Zhejiang Province from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23,
2008.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
called on domestic companies to pump up confidence in coping with the global
financial crisis during his inspection of enterprises in eastern Shanghai and
Zhejiang Province from Friday to Sunday.
Wen said buoying up their confidence was "a powerful
weapon to deal with the adverse effects of the global economic turbulence and
financial turmoil" when inspecting local private enterprises and large-scale
companies. Full story
Chinese premier wants to accelerate
post-quake reconstruction
BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Accelerating reconstruction
work is the top priority in quake-affected areas, said Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao during his visit over the weekend to Sichuan Province.
He told villagers in Anxian County on Sunday that the
government would strengthen support to farmers to help them rebuild their houses
within two years, instead of three years as was the original schedule. Full
story
