AsianScientist (Sep. 16, 2013) – The government will continue to invest in long-term education, science and technology objectives to stabilize and transform the slowing economy, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang last week during the national science, technology and education leadership group’s first meeting.
“China should place education, science and technology in strategic positions and view them from an overall perspective,” Li said, as reported by the state-run media.
China – which is transforming its economic growth model from an export- and investment-driven model to one based on domestic consumption – has experienced slowing growth in recent months, said Li.
“Sustaining economic growth, continuously improving people’s livelihoods and promoting social justice are the central government’s three primary tasks,” Li said. “This requires us to bet first on education and, second, on science and technology.”
The world’s second-largest economy has pledged to prioritize education’s development through increased investment into the sector: Its fiscal expenditures on education last year accounted for four percent of GDP, or 2.2 trillion yuan (US$360 million), the highest amount to date.
“Equal education access is a fundamental pillar of social justice. We should foster more talent to serve China’s rural areas, and its central and western areas, to narrow the biggest gaps we face – regional and urban-rural gaps,” said Li.
At the same meeting, Chinese Education Minister Yuan Guiren said that equal access to education is his ministry’s primary concern, and plans include improving education in poor areas and helping migrant workers’ children attend school.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: pmorgan/Flickr/CC.
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