Better vocational education will help Made in China go further

At an executive meeting on Wednesday, the State Council, China's Cabinet, decided to increase the coverage rate and the amount of national scholarships and reimbursements for advanced vocational schools. Southern Metropolis Daily comments:

That is a positive move by the State Council as it will boost the confidence of vocational school students and encourage more people to opt for vocational education.

The domestic vocational education sector is to increase its student enrollment by 1 million in the 2019-20 school year, according to the national plan. Besides, the enrollment system will be further reformed so as to encourage more high school graduates, military veterans, laid-off workers, as well as migrant workers to apply for the schools.

By 2022, quite a number of higher education colleges will shift their education mode to applied education. A total of 50 high-level advanced vocational schools and 300 high-level professional training bases will be established, so as to push the domestic vocational education system to an advanced level.

By doing so, China has to a certain extent followed the good example of Germany, where about 25 percent of the youngsters go to colleges while the majority of young people go to vocational schools. As early as middle school, German youngsters face the choice of going to comprehensive middle schools or general schools. Those going to the former prepare to go to college, while those going to the latter prepare to receive vocational education. Both have similar income and promotion expectations. Blue-collar workers are as valued as their white-collar counterparts. That's essentially why Made in Germany has become so successful.

China can learn from Germany's example. When the State invests ample resources into the vocational education sector and ensures vocational education students have a promising future, more people will be willing to choose vocational education.

A better educated labor force can help build Made in China into a better and more well-known brand of the whole world.