On January 25, Chen Baosheng, Minister of Education and Secretary of the MOE’s Leading Party Group, chaired a symposium for gathering comments and suggestions on education-related work from the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the Education, Science, Culture, Health and Sports Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the eight democratic party central committees.

Participants acknowledged the remarkable progress made in educational reforms over the previous twelve months, and offered suggestions on a wide array of issues, including targeted poverty alleviation through education, the development of preschool education system, the advancement of reforms in vocational education, the acceleration of education-related legislation, teacher workforce capacity building, and support for the development of education in the mid-west of China. Members of the Leading Party Group of the MOE actively responded to these comments in their respective capacities.

Chen extended his gratitude to the two committees responsible for educational affairs under the NPC and CPPCC and the democratic party central committees, for their long-term support in education in terms of legislation, consultation, poverty alleviation, supervision and the cultivation of a favorable environment. He noted that the MOE would study all comments made during the meeting aimed at improving future work. He also said that his ministry would further enhance communication with these organizations to jointly push forward educational reforms.

Proposals tabled by NPC deputies and CPPCC members during the annual NPC and CPPCC sessions have become an important channel for the MOE to tap into public opinion and seek advice, offering insight into the challenges faced by the education system. In 2018, the MOE handled a total of 1,798 proposals.