Policy digest
Free education program
The State Council on Friday unveiled a guideline on a free education program for students at six key normal universities nationwide in an effort to attract more high-caliber talent.
Central finance will cover tuition and accommodation fees and offer subsidies for living expenses for undergraduate teaching students studying majors from universities including the Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University and Central China Normal University, the guideline said.
The program will take into account a number of factors, including quality, professional preferences and potential for teaching when selecting high school students as candidates.
As part of the program, those selected will sign a contract with their universities and education authorities of the provincial region where they come from. The students will be encouraged to work as teachers on a long-term basis.
They will teach in middle or primary schools for at least six years in their home provinces. Those who choose to work in urban areas must have at least one year of work experience at middle or primary schools in rural areas.
According to the contract, a student who serves as a teacher for a semester can also apply to study a master’s degree in education.
The guideline said the subsidies offered to the students will be adjusted dynamically based on the region’s economic development and financial capacity.
The students are also eligible for other scholarships, and universities will also be encouraged to set up special scholarships for the students.
Nuclear standards issued
China will speed up the establishment of technical standards in the nuclear sector to promote the safety and sustainable development of nuclear energy, according to a guideline issued on Thursday.
The guideline, issued by the State Council General Office, said the country will establish a set of independent standards for nuclear power next year. By 2022, the percentage of programs that adopt the country’s own nuclear standards will increase significantly, and the international influence and level of recognition will also improve. The country is aiming to play a leading role in the global standardization process by 2027, it added.
According to the guideline, the country will seek to further improve the level of independence in nuclear standards, which will take into account the level of security, economic efficiency, industrial foundation and supervision systems.
The guideline said it is looking to solve the problem of an incomplete standard system, unsatisfactory levels of application and a lack of international recognition and influence in standards.
The country will strengthen cooperation with nuclear power trading nations and international standardization organizations, in order to expand the influence of Chinese standards, according to the guideline.