About 70 percent of last year's university graduates found jobs
in their first year out of school, and more effort will be needed
to maintain that level this year, said officials from the Ministry
of Education on Wednesday.
The ministry is urging regional education departments to give
more assistance to new graduates seeking work.
"Government institutions should continue to help students get
small loans to start businesses. Regional labor and social security
administrations must help safeguard students' interests in salary
and labor disputes," said Liu Dawei, of the ministry's Department
for College Student Affairs.
Last year, as graduates faced fierce employment competition, the
ministry and related departments developed a small-loan system to
help students create jobs.
Chen Xi, in charge of student employment affairs, said that no
data is yet available on the number of students who received such
loans nationwide. However, most local governments worked hard to
implement the policy, said Chen.
Last year, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce
also implemented a tax-exemption policy to encourage students to
run their own companies.
Xiao Xiao, a computer science graduate of Chongqing University, set
up a computer networking company in Chongqing
Municipality. Xiao believes the policy gives impetus to college
students who want to run their own companies.
The Ministry of Education is also revamping and expanding senior
vocational education, which gives students highly marketable
job skills.
Senior vocational schools are being required to phase out
theory-oriented curricula and open practical skills training. These
schools will open centers that provide hands-on experience to
prepare students for employment.
Beginning this year, senior vocational schools across the
country will offer courses in digital-control technology,
automobile maintenance, computer and software science and nursing,
all fields suffering shortages of qualified workers.
China has 908 senior vocational education schools scattered
throughout 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.
(China Daily May 13, 2004)