During the 11th five-year-plan period (2006-2010) China will invest 14 billion yuan (US$1.75 billion) to develop technical and skills training for young workers, according to Ministry of Education (MOE).

 

 

The investment is designed to develop skilled workers capable of playing a key role in China's modernization drive, the ministry said.

 

From 2006 to 2010 at least 2 billion yuan (US$250 million) would be allocated to develop 100 pilot polytechnic institutes, said the MOE. They observed, "This is the first time the central government has made such a massive investment in higher-level vocational training."

 

From 2006 800 million yuan (US$100 million) will also be set aside annually for scholarships for 800,000 needy students.

 

"We trust this investment plan will boost China's technical training sector and make it better serve social and economic development," said Wu Qidi, vice minister of education.

 

The country has more than 1,100 technical training schools and institutes but both equipment and the quality of teaching are often inadequate, say the MOE.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2006)