On June 11, the National Academy of Education Administration held the opening ceremony of its school year 2020-2021. A total of 335 students studying in the 62nd advanced training course for HEI administrative leaders, the 59th training course for young HEI administrative personnel, the 47th training workshop for directors of municipal educational departments, and the 49th training course on provincial and municipal education supervision attended the ceremony. Chen Baosheng, President of the Academy, Minister of Education and Head of the MOE’s Party Leadership Group, addressed students who were present.

Chen remarked that 2020 marked the concluding phase of China’s endeavors to eradicate poverty, build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and deliver on its 13th Five-year Plan as well as the National Education Plan, and the target year of final evaluation for the education sector. This had been an extraordinary year which had seen the entire nation battle with COVID-19 and achieve significant progress in pandemic prevention and control. The education system had overcome difficulties through concerted action and gradually moved forward with the reopening of schools. In the face of challenges brought by the pandemic, the education system needed to concentrate its efforts on attaining three goals: poverty elimination through education, reform and development of education, and teacher workforce capacity building.

He stressed the advantages of the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership role and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the Chinese way of the rise in power, the Chinese spirit and the Chinese-style efficiency demonstrated in the national fight against COVID-19. Party officials and administrative leaders in the education sector should study and learn from experience in this regard, to gain deeper comprehension of the successes China had secured in building Party leadership, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Marxist theory, the fine traditional Chinese culture, and the current national governance model.

He also required the education sector to fully adapt to the conditions of normalized epidemic prevention and control, continuing training and learning activities and reinforcing governance capacity building of Party officials and administrative leaders during the pandemic outbreak. To secure victory in the this landmark year of final evaluation, the education system had to first ensure a great kickoff plan, consolidating existing educational outcomes while maintaining momentum in making new achievements. The reform of education would proceed in an integrated, holistic and systematic manner by utilizing synergies of all parties, while a regular crisis response mechanism would be put in place to deal with obstacles in public crisis events.