Chongqing - Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality released its plan (2024–2035) for accelerating the construction of a leading city in education and promoting education modernization on Thursday. 

It aims to establish Chongqing as a high-level education hub by 2035, achieve comprehensive education modernization, and rank among the top tiers in comprehensive educational strength nationwide.

"Chongqing is home to 73 higher education institutions with 1.38 million students enrolled. The gross enrollment rate for higher education has reached 63.5%, surpassing the target set in the 14th Five-Year Plan and marking a 16.5 percentage point increase from five years ago," said Liu Yanbing, Secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Education Working Committee and Director of the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission.

Beyond higher education, Chongqing has made remarkable progress in vocational training and scientific innovation. The city hosts 43 national-level scientific innovation platforms, including the renowned National Key Laboratory for High-End Equipment Mechanical Transmission. Vocational institutions such as Chongqing Electronic Engineering Vocational College and Chongqing Industrial Vocational Technical College have achieved an 88% alignment between their programs and the needs of key industries, providing strong support for the city's economic development.

Basic education in Chongqing has also seen significant improvements. The city now operates 9,422 kindergartens, and primary, and secondary schools, serving 5.16 million students. Key indicators such as preschool enrollment, compulsory education retention, and high school enrollment have all shown notable growth over the past five years, reflecting the establishment of a fair and high-quality public education system.

On February 18, more than three million primary and secondary students across Chongqing made their way back to school. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

The plan introduces the "158N" system framework, which centers on building a modern education powerhouse as its overarching goal. This framework outlines five strategic positions, eight major actions, and N landmark projects with Chongqing characteristics, all designed to drive education modernization and foster innovation.

Over the next three years, Chongqing will focus on narrowing the gap between high-quality and under-resourced schools by ensuring that 90% of basic education institutions participate in collaborative "education communities." Additionally, the city will support 10 vocational colleges in advancing high-level programs, establish 50 municipal-level modern industry colleges, and build 50 joint graduate training platforms. These initiatives aim to cultivate a large pool of highly skilled professionals with strong innovative capabilities, ready to meet the demands of economic and social development.

The plan also highlights 11 key areas and 43 specific measures, aligning with Chongqing's "416" scientific innovation layout and "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system. A major focus is revitalizing county-level high schools. Plans are to build 100 specialized high schools to ensure every district has access to quality education. Each county will also establish a standardized special education school, further promoting inclusivity.

To strengthen its global education presence, Chongqing will deepen international cooperation by promoting the "Study in Chongqing" brand and striving to establish 100 Chinese-foreign cooperative education institutions and projects. Efforts will also be made to advance the construction of the Chongqing Higher Education Research Institute under the Ministry of Education.

The plan prioritizes physical and mental health to address public concerns about student well-being. Initiatives include a student fitness program to ensure every student masters one to two sports skills and a mental health promotion project called Growing Toward the Light, which will establish a three-tier youth service system and a 24-hour hotline. To reduce academic pressure, the plan calls for cutting repetitive homework and unnecessary exams while enhancing science education to spark curiosity and a love for learning.

The plan outlines a three-phase implementation timeline. By 2027, Chongqing aims to achieve significant progress in education strength, with talent cultivation and comprehensive education metrics ranking among the top in central and western China. 

By 2029, the city expects breakthroughs in education modernization, including the establishment of numerous national scientific innovation and talent training platforms.

By 2035, Chongqing aims to fully realize its vision of becoming a high-level education powerhouse, with a modern education system that drives regional development and supports scientific and technological advancement.

Through these comprehensive efforts, Chongqing is committed to building a modern, equitable, and high-quality education system that not only meets the needs of its residents but also ranks among the top tier in comprehensive educational strength nationwide.