17. Vocational Education Reform in China

Chinas vocational education program has adopted the same standards as technical and vocational education programs in other countries, but created two new systems with Chinese characteristics. The first, a vocational education system, is comprised of three categories of schools: secondary school, including technical schools, vocational high schools, and technical schools for adults; vocational higher education institutions, including independent colleges, non-governmental schools, and five- year training colleges; and diversified vocational training schools. The second system is a social vocational training system. Social training and vocational accreditation institutions are important supplements to Chinas education and training system. Model vocational education programs have distinct local characteristics, due to the extensive regional disparities in socio-economic development. Vocational education in China faces many challenges resulting from a lack of public awareness, education facilities, modest school scale, low teaching quality, unsupportive environment, and need for more training centers.