More than 3,000 people attended Shanghai's first training course for marriage counselors over the weekend in the Huangpu Library.

After passing the course exam, the students will be awarded professional certificates authorized by the Personnel Department of All-China Women's Federation and China International Marriage and Family Association.

"The counselors must comprehend not only psychological knowledge, but Marriage Law, the marriage culture and parent-child education as well," said Zhang Hua, director of Shanghai Marriage Instructor Training Office.

The counselors help people raise the quality of marriage and family life, said the training office.

The students, from 23 to 71 years old, are from all walks of life, such as psychological consultants, lawyers, teachers, white-collar executives and neighborhood committee employees. Eighty percent are female.

Promising job

Some of the candidates wanted the certificates to help them engage in marriage instruction, as they found the new type of job promising, while others wanted to solve their own problems through the study, said the office.

"Some of the attendees are faced with marriage problems themselves," said Zhang. "When they find psychological consulting was not enough, they turn to specialized knowledge for help."

About 40 percent of the candidates have a good educational background and high income, according to the office.

"Even though they are enjoying a comfortable material life, their souls are lonely," said Zhang.

More than 30,000 couples filed for divorce in the city last year, an increase of 12 percent from 2004.

(Shanghai Daily July 3, 2006)