The government will introduce strong measures to develop modern vocational education in a bid to ease employment pressures and a shortage of highly skilled personnel, according to the Government Work Report, which was delivered on March 5.

The report said a vocational skills training initiative will be implemented with 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) in funds, culled from a surplus in unemployment insurance funds, allocated to provide training for a targeted attendance of 15 million. That will help job seekers to upgrade their skills or switch jobs or industries.

The nation will step up reforms and improve examination and enrollment procedures at vocational colleges to encourage more high school students, demobilized military personnel, migrant workers and laid-off employees to apply, with the aim of expanding student enrollments by 1 million.

According to the report, the central government will greatly increase fiscal support for vocational colleges by establishing State scholarships for secondary-level vocational education. Moreover, coverage of scholarships and grants, along with financial assistance, will be expanded for students at vocational colleges.

To raise the quality of vocational education, the government will speed up work to align vocational technical grade certificates with academic qualifications, and reform the management of vocational colleges.

The government will also support businesses and individuals that provide vocational education, the report said.