Ministry of Education sets up new department

The Ministry of Education has set up a department to execute education reform, and established offices on early-childhood education, special education and continuing education at the end of October, aiming to improve guidance in these fields.

The new department is responsible for major reform measures in the education field, including implementing reform policies, conducting research on reform advice, and publicizing reform, according to a circular dated Oct 28 and published on the ministry's website.

Education Minister Yuan Guiren said at a news conference in September that the reform will be planned by the State Council at first.

He also mentioned increased international education cooperation, citing examples such as New York University Shanghai campus and Duke University Kunshan campus.

Along with the new department on reform, the ministry also established offices to improve guidance in specific education sectors.

The early-childhood education office is responsible for drafting policy and regulation, making requirements upon kindergarten quality, and guiding kindergarten improvements.

The special-education office will formulate the special needs' textbooks during compulsory education, draft policy and regulation and guide teaching in this field.

The continuing-education office will administer community education and vocational education, and guide the private technical trainings.

Liu Jiantong, deputy director of vocational and adult education at the Ministry of Education, said that establishing an office in charge of continuing education reflects the nation's attention to vocational and adult education.

The ministry has paid a great deal of attention to vocational and continuing education, and made a large investment in 2011, Liu added.

Speaking at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Nov 8, President Hu Jintao said that top authorities have made a major effort to develop education, including promoting early-childhood education and investing in vocational and technical education.

Contact the writers at cheng-yingqi@chinadaily.com.cn and luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn.