On April 1, 2022, Chairman Li Zhanshu presided over a symposium at Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College in Anhui Province to solicit opinions and suggestions on the revision of the Vocational Education Law. Photography/Xinhua News Agency reporter Yao Dawei

On April 1, 2022, Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, led a research group of the National People's Congress to Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College in Anhui Province to have a face-to-face discussion with teachers and students of vocational schools, enterprise representatives and heads of functional departments on the revision of the Vocational Education Law, and listen to opinions and suggestions.

Li Zhanshu emphasized the need to fully implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on vocational education, transform the policy measures and successful experiences of the Party Central Committee on vocational education reform and development into legal norms through legal procedures, promote the resolution of hot and difficult points and prominent problems in vocational education, and lay a solid foundation for the rule of law in cultivating more high-quality workers and technical skilled talents, building a modern vocational education system, truly making vocational education "fragrant" and "hot", and giving more young people opportunities to shine in life.

Combining moral and technical skills

Vigorously cultivate and promote the spirit of model workers, labor spirit, and craftsmanship spirit

According to the work arrangement, the revised draft of the Vocational Education Law, which has received great attention from the society, will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the third review.

On the morning of April 1st, Chairman Li Zhanshu and members of the research team visited Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College in Anhui Province to gain an on-site understanding of the situation. Entering the workshop of the Intelligent Manufacturing Training Center, the machining center area, CNC machine area, 3D product design area, intelligent manufacturing production line and other areas are set up in an orderly manner. Under the guidance of the teacher, students operate various machines to proficiently master professional technical skills.

At the New Energy Vehicle Training Center, a student is repairing a power battery. Li Zhanshu and the members of the research team stopped and asked carefully, "When was the new energy vehicle technology major established?" "How many students are there?" "What kind of jobs do they do after graduation?" "What is the salary

Tao Tingxian, Dean of Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College, introduced that the college was established in 2002 and is a public full-time ordinary higher vocational and technical college with 8550 students currently enrolled. The New Energy Vehicle Technology major has been enrolling students since 2018, with over 400 students. Due to the shortage of the market, the employment rate of students is very high, and the vast majority of them work in technical positions in automobile manufacturing plants, 4S stores, automobile inspection service agencies and other units, with some earning a monthly salary of up to 15000 yuan.

Li Zhanshu praised while examining, "Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College is a demonstration school for school enterprise cooperation in the province, offering more than 40 majors and cultivating a large number of technical and skilled talents, making positive contributions to serving local economic and social development

Li Zhanshu pointed out that vocational education is about cultivating technical skills, and the most prominent feature is practicality. We should take the integration of industry and education, as well as the combination of engineering and learning, as the basic mode of education, enrich the cooperation between schools and enterprises according to local conditions, establish and make good use of various training bases, and enable students to grow their talents and improve their skills through practical labor. We need to continue to improve our educational capabilities and standards, adhere to the principles of cultivating morality and skills, and vigorously cultivate and promote the spirit of model workers, laborers, and craftsmen among the vast number of students.

At present, there are 346 secondary and vocational schools in Anhui Province, with a total of 1.512 million students, ranking among the top in terms of scale and level of education in the country.

Li Zhanshu affirmed the vocational education work in Anhui Province, stating that it has been tightly implemented and the results have been good. At the same time, it is hoped that party committees and governments at all levels in Anhui will place vocational education in a more prominent position, make efforts to promote high-quality development, continuously improve the adaptability and modernization level of vocational education, and provide strong talent and skill support for the construction of a beautiful Anhui.

Responding to concerns

Consolidate consensus to ensure that legal provisions are "established, feasible, and truly effective"

On that day, Li Zhanshu and members of the research team held a symposium at Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College, listening to the legislative calls of representatives of vocational school teachers and students, enterprise representatives, and relevant department heads, consolidating consensus from all aspects, and ensuring that legal provisions are "established, implemented, and truly effective".

During the discussion, the attendees actively spoke up, truthfully reflecting hot topics and concerns, and contributing their wisdom to further improve and revise the Vocational Education Law. After listening carefully to the speech, Li Zhanshu had in-depth exchanges with everyone on some highly concerned issues and responded accordingly.

One is to tilt more of the newly added education funds towards vocational education and establish a long-term mechanism for financial investment. It is understood that in some places across the country, the per capita funding standards for vocational schools are relatively low, and some places cannot keep up with the supporting guarantees. Therefore, it is not feasible to offset the per capita funding with the tuition fees and social service income paid by the schools. The current revised draft of the Vocational Education Law specifically includes prohibitive provisions and explicitly requires increased financial investment, encouraging various channels to raise funds.

Secondly, support and encouragement should be strengthened for enterprises participating in vocational education. The central government has stipulated that enterprise education surcharges can be offset according to a certain proportion of investment, and has also introduced a combination of "finance+finance+land+credit" incentive policies. However, due to the unclear policy jurisdiction of enterprises as the main body of education, many preferential policies have not been implemented effectively, and their effectiveness has not been fully demonstrated. The revised draft stipulates that "the state should play an important role as the main body of education for enterprises, promote their deep participation in vocational education, and encourage them to hold high-quality vocational education." Enterprise representatives propose to deepen cooperation between schools and enterprises, integrate industry and education, and provide subsidies for characteristic majors such as "enterprise naming classes" and "targeted training classes." This can be studied and explored in practice, and the key is to follow market mechanisms and laws, and find a mutually beneficial and win-win solution for both schools and enterprises.

The third is to promote vertical integration of vocational education at different levels and horizontal integration of different types of vocational education. The revised draft has made detailed provisions and arrangements in chapters such as "Vocational Education System". Representatives from vocational schools call for the establishment of a nationwide unified "vocational education college entrance examination" system to accelerate the development of undergraduate level vocational education. At present, some places, including Anhui Province, have carried out pilot work and can continue to accumulate experience

The fourth is to focus on enhancing the social recognition of vocational education. Nowadays, the recognition of vocational education in society is still not high, and many people feel that vocational education is "half baked". Considering this practical situation, the revised draft clearly proposes that "vocational education is an education type with equal importance as general education", and also stipulates vocational education activity weeks, conducting vocational education public welfare propaganda, and other measures to guide the whole society to establish a scientific vocational education concept, truly making vocational education "fragrant" and "hot".

Message to Students

Mastering a skill is commendable and honorable, as it enables one to settle down and contribute to the country

In the new journey of comprehensively building a socialist modernized country, vocational education has broad prospects and great potential.

In the three-year study of environmental art and design major, the teachers not only imparted various professional knowledge and vocational skills to us, but also helped us establish a correct worldview, outlook on life, and values. "He Jun, a 2022 graduate of Xuancheng Vocational and Technical College, successfully signed an employment agreement based on his solid basic skills laid in school.

As a student representative, He Jun talked about his own learning and award experiences. He said with deep understanding, "A well digger starts from a three inch hurdle and goes ten thousand feet deep. As long as they persist, they will surely achieve something

Li Zhanshu deeply agrees with what He Jun said and thought, and sends a heartfelt message to young vocational school students: the quality of workers is crucial for the development of a country and a nation. The technical workforce is an important foundation for supporting China's manufacturing and creation, and plays a crucial role in promoting high-quality economic development. In ancient times, there were skilled craftsmen such as Lu Ban and Pao Ding, and now there are technical talents such as Xu Zhenchao, who broke the world record for container loading and unloading, and Zhang Yan, the "Bridge Crane Champion". Every year, the "Great Nation Craftsman of the Year" confirms that "there are three hundred and sixty trades, and every trade produces a champion". Mastering a skill not only enables one to settle down and contribute to the country, but also deserves praise and honor.

Li Zhanshu encouraged everyone: "I hope you will adhere to the comprehensive development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor, firmly establish the concept of labor, love labor, hone solid skills in labor, continue the spirit of craftsmanship, live your own wonderful lives, and contribute to the comprehensive construction of a socialist modernized country