The central government has approved measures to reform vocational and technical education in ways that would cater to the modern needs of industry and thus increase employment prospects for the youth.

In an executive meeting of the State Council led by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, the government emphasized the need to pay attention to the demands of the labor market so that graduates of vocational schools can have a higher rate of employability.

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The State Council also encouraged vocational schools to improve their existing curriculum and offer technical certificates that can be converted into academic credits, if and when vocational graduates decide to pursue academic degrees in colleges and universities. 

The meeting laid down the following tasks and measures toward an accelerated development of modern vocational education:

First, firmly establish the important role of modern vocational education in national talent cultivation system, encourage the formation of a social environment of "advocating skills and capability but not education backgrounds", and motivate the young people's initiative to learn vocational skills.

Second, create a new mode of vocational education; expand the autonomy of higher educational institutions in the areas of major setup and adjustment, human resources management, teachers' assessment and recruit as well as income distribution. Build a system of credit accumulation and transfer, open up a path from secondary vocational school, professional college, and undergraduate schools to graduate schools. Guiding a batch of general undergraduate to transfer to applied technical higher education.

Third, upgrade the quality of talent cultivation. Strongly promote "Three Match": major setup matches industry needs; curriculum matches vocational standards; and teaching steps match productive process. Actively advance the "Two Certificate" system: academic certificate and vocational certificate. 

Fourth, lead the social force to initiate vocational education. Positively support each kind of private vocational education with the format of sole proprietorship, joint venture, and cooperation. The private vocational schools have the same legal status with public vocational schools.

Fifth, intensify policy support and supervision. Governments in different levels need to perfect the financial investment system. Classify, formulate, and confirm the school setup standards; enhance the supervision and assessment.

Wednesday's executive meeting also approved the draft "Human Resources Management Regulation of Public Institute" which provides guidelines on personnel management in publicly funded organizations such as public hospitals and schools.