Focus is on vocational education in Qingzhen city

Qingzhen – the county level city under the administration of Guizhou province's capital Guiyang – has made great efforts to promote the development of vocational education, in response to the province's request to improve the skills of its technicians and workers.

Local officials said that as an important part of China's education system, vocational education can support manufacturing and alleviate poverty.

The county level city in southwestern China has implemented a three-stage action plan with the aim of boosting the work skills of people in poverty-stricken areas.

Officials said the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education has already organized teachers from high-quality vocational schools in the province to provide free classes to people in severely impoverished areas.

The free classes enroll more than 4,000 poor students every year and the number at its peak has reached 6,000, up from only 2,000 in 2015.

The province's administration has also strengthened its cooperation with research departments and businesses, aiming to improve the competitiveness of farmers and skilled workers.

Furthermore, the province has provided vocational skills training for specific groups, including migrant workers, ex-servicemen and laid-off workers.

Through expanding enrollments, ex-servicemen can receive vocational education and thus improve their employability, officials said.

The Guizhou Provincial Department of Education has been urged to build Qingzhen Vocational Education City into a demonstration zone for vocational education reform and technician training.