On 6 December 2019, the Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation and the Training Centre of the Open University of China (OUC) signed a framework agreement and a cooperation agreement to implement a programme of practical skills training for kindergarten teachers in nursery education.
Su Xinying, director of Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation; Cui Zuying, secretary of the Party Organisation; Li Siying, director of the Administration Office; Wang Qifu, dean of the OUC School of Vocational Education and Training and director of the OUC Training Centre; Wang Dunchun, executive director of the special fund for vocational education development of Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation, and persons in charge of the programme, attended the signing ceremony.
In August 2019, the State Council's Report on the Reform and Development of Pre-school Education (hereinafter referred to as the Report) pointed out that it is necessary to strengthen the construction of teaching teams and constantly expand the scale of training. At present, the number and quality of kindergarten teachers in China cannot meet the needs of preschool education development. With this in mind, Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation and the OUC Training Centre will carry out in-depth cooperation in the fields of practical ability training and evaluation for kindergarten teachers, training course resource construction, and the research and practice of industry-education integration.
Su Xinying pointed out that vocational education, which focuses on the cultivation of practical skills and abilities, is an important part of the modern education system. The signing of the agreements marks the first public welfare project supported by the special fund for vocational education. The implementation of the project will have far-reaching significance.
Wang Qifu said that the Training Centre will leverage the opportunity provided by the "Teachers’ Training Curriculum Standards for Early Childhood Care and Education” programmed entrusted to the OUC by the Teachers’ Affairs Division of the Ministry of Education being passed, start with the support of Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation, learn from training concepts for advanced kindergarten teachers and their experience at home and abroad, successfully complete top-level design and overall schematics , and design and develop a number of new forms of high-quality, effective training curriculum resources for teachers in preschool education so as to meet the needs of early childhood teachers and improve the practical ability of nursery care and education.
According to the agreement, the Training Centre will cooperate with the special fund for vocational education development created by Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation to carry out public welfare training pilot work in a province in advance, then summarise the experience, improve the scheme, optimise the courses, build a team of teachers, and gradually expand the programme to the whole country.
Cui Zuying gave a concluding speech. He said that he hopes that after the project is launched, it will strictly implement the relevant laws and regulations of the party and the state, the articles of association and relevant provisions of Tao Xingzhi Education Foundation, consciously accept the supervision of the Foundation and the society, use Tao Xingzhi's education concept as a guide, and carefully design and effectively implement the program in order to strive to make positive contributions to the reform and development of vocational education in China.
By Zhang Xiaoying,OUC