China Celebrates 40th Teachers’ Day with Honors for 585 Units and 1790 Individuals
Beijing, September 8, 2024 – China marked the 40th anniversary of Teachers’ Day with a grand ceremony in Beijing, honoring 585 outstanding units and 1790 individuals for their contributions to the nation’s education system. The event, held on September 8th, celebratedthe dedication and achievements of educators across the country, highlighting their crucial role in building a strong and prosperous China.
A strong nation is built on strong education, and strong education relies on strong teachers, emphasized the event’s organizers.The awardees, representing a diverse range of educational institutions and roles, embody the spirit of educators, serving as pillars of trust and inspiration for the nation.
Choosing one thing and pursuing it with dedication – this is not just aninterpretation of the spirit of craftsmanship, but also my life’s motto, shared Yang Yang, a professor at Chongqing Industrial Vocational and Technical College and a representative of the National Model Teachers.
From vocational school teachers to kindergarten educators, from school principals to counselors, and from urban schools to rural schools, theawardees represent the 18.918 million teachers and education workers across China. They embody the nation’s deep respect for teachers and the crucial role they play in shaping the future.
The ceremony highlighted the significant progress made in China’s education system since the establishment of Teachers’ Day in 1985. In that year, Beijing Normal University, with its 20,000 students and faculty, displayed a banner proclaiming Teachers Forever, a sentiment that resonated with millions across the nation.
Since then, China has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its education system. The number of full-time teachers has doubled since 1985, demonstrating the nation’s commitment to providing quality education for its citizens. This dedicated force of educators has built the world’s largest education system, a testament to their unwavering commitment to nurturing future generations.
The 40th anniversary of Teachers’ Day alsomarks a significant milestone in the evolution of China’s teacher workforce. The nation has implemented a comprehensive set of policies to enhance the professional status, quality, and well-being of its teachers.
A More Complete Teacher System:
The recent release of the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Partyof China and the State Council on Promoting the Spirit of Educators and Strengthening the Construction of a High-Quality and Professionalized Teacher Workforce in the New Era outlines a comprehensive plan for building a robust and capable teacher workforce to support the nation’s educational goals.
This document, alongside other policy initiatives like the Opinionson Deepening the Reform of Teacher Workforce Construction in the New Era and the Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Rural Teacher Workforce in the New Era, has created a robust and comprehensive framework for teacher development. Programs like the Targeted Training Program for Excellent Teachers in Less Developed Regions of Central and Western China andthe Teacher Quality Improvement Plan for Vocational Colleges are actively implemented to enhance the skills and knowledge of teachers across the country.
A Higher Quality Teacher Workforce:
Studying at a teacher training university and becoming a good teacher has always been my dream, shared Li Ying, a student from Shandong who recently enrolled atShaanxi Normal University as a public-funded teacher training student.
The implementation of public-funded teacher training programs is a key initiative to elevate the professional status and skills of teachers. In 1985, there were only 1,396 full-time teachers with doctoral degrees in highereducation. Today, this number has soared to 625,820, a nearly 450-fold increase.
The nation has also achieved significant progress in building a high-quality professionalized workforce for basic education. In 2023, the proportion of elementary and juniorhigh school teachers with bachelor’s degrees or higher has increased by 41.9% and 20%, respectively, compared to 2012. The proportion of high school teachers with master’s degrees or higher has risen from 5% in 2012 to 14% in 2023.
These efforts to enhance the quality of basic education teachers, coupled with initiatives to improve the skills of rural teachers and cultivate skilled professionals in vocational education, have led to a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of the teacher workforce.
Improved Status and Compensation for Teachers:
This year, the Special Recruitment Program for teachers saw an increase in salary subsidies, with each teacher receiving an additional 3,600 yuan per year.
Over the years, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council have prioritized improving the compensation and working conditions of teachers.From providing living subsidies to rural teachers in 725 districts and counties across 22 provinces in central and western China, benefiting approximately 1.3 million teachers, to ensuring that the average salary of compulsory education teachers is no lower than the average salary of civil servants in their respective regions, and implementing mechanismsto incentivize and reward teachers, the government has taken concrete steps to enhance the attractiveness of the teaching profession.
Wang Jiayi, Vice Minister of Education, emphasized the government’s commitment to continue implementing key programs like public-funded teacher training, the Excellent Teacher Program, and the National Excellent Teacher Program.He also stressed the importance of supporting local regions in exploring new models for cultivating outstanding teachers, ensuring that the nation has a strong and dedicated teacher workforce to support its educational goals.
As China enters a new era of development, the 40th anniversary of Teachers’ Day serves as a reminder of the vital roleeducators play in shaping the nation’s future. On this special occasion, let us express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all teachers with a heartfelt Happy Teachers’ Day!
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