Gansu holds vocational education publicity activities

A Hand craft made by students from Gansu's vocational school is displayed at the opening ceremony of the "Gansu Vocational Education Publicity Month" on April 1. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

The Lanzhou Resources and Environment Vocational Technology College in Lanzhou, Gansu province, held the opening ceremony of the "Gansu Vocational Education Publicity Month" on April 1.

Teachers and students from several vocational schools took part in the opening ceremony to show their vocational skills. Various innovative handworks were exhibited, such as the "rose" caved by carrot, and "Chinese chess" made by chocolate and flour, which caught great attention and won the praise from visitors.

Gansu province has stepped up its efforts to promote vocational education in 2015 after the provincial government issued a series of policies to support secondary vocational education, such as free tuition for the secondary vocational students in 2015. In addition, the provincial government budget is expected to set up special funds to add more than 100 million yuan ($16.12 million) annually to strengthen vocational education.

Students from Lanzhou Tourism Technical Secondary School make hand crafts at the opening ceremony of the "Gansu Vocational Education Publicity Month" on April 1. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

"We are looking to show the advantages of the vocational education to more students and parents through publicity and change their attitude towards such education," said Chen Baoping, deputy director of the Gansu Education Department.

According to Chen, the province aimed to cultivate more students with technological skills to meet the demand of the Gansu industrial reformation and transformation. He said that vocational education plays a significant role in alleviating poverty.

"The low entrance requirements make the vocational schools more popular among young people from poverty-stricken areas and schools also provide training for migrant workers. Developing technical and vocational education is also one way to help with unemployment," Chen concluded.

During the publicity activity, the Gansu Education Department will give out pamphlets and disseminate policies on vocational education to middle school students and their parents to help them build a comprehensive understanding of it.

A student from Lanzhou Tourism Technical Secondary School displays "Chinese chess" made with chocolate and flour. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Edited by Jacob Hooson