President Hu Jintao and several other central government leaders met
with hundreds of teacher representatives Friday in the Great Hall of the People,
to celebrate the 20th National Teachers' Day.
They were honoured for their outstanding work as teachers.
Hu said millions of teachers have made great
contributions to the country's educational development through their
long-standing devotion to work. They have gained common respect from society.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (right) and
Premier Wen Jiabao (second from right) meet teachers representatives in
the Great Hall of the People on September 10, 2004.
[newsphoto] |
He said these honoured teachers are
good examples for all and he wished them to treasure the honour and contribute
more to training talents for the country.
Education plays a primary role to upgrading a nation's comprehensive power,
said the President.
"We must further put education on a prior and strategic position, to sustain
the nurture of powerful talent team for constructing a wealthy and comfortable
society," he said.
He stressed that teachers and educators should always bear in mind to take
the jobs as their own responsibilities, and upgrade teaching competence by
continuous studies and improving morality.
Hu called on governments at all levels to focus more on teachers.
Friday morning, Hu visited Beijing Hongzhi Middle School which recruits
students in financial need.
Nearly 700 students attend the school which was subsidized by Beijing
municipal and the Dongcheng District governments.
Students here are exempted from tuition and expenses for textbooks and
accommodations.
Hu chatted with students and teachers and was pleased that students feel at
ease studying with government support.
He encouraged financially-burdened students to study hard to gain great
achievements.
The President called on relevant departments to regard the work of assisting
poor students study as an important job.
He then visited three retired middle school teachers at their family homes.
State Councillor Chen Zhili said more efforts are needed to further upgrade
the quality of teachers, especially teachers in rural areas, as the modern
construction has posed a higher demand for teaching teams.
Sources from the Ministry of Education said by 2007, the 12.5 million
teachers across the country will all receive part-time training of at least 240
hours.
To further ensure the safety of children in kindergartens and avoid the two
recent accidents in kindergartens of Beijing and Henan Province, the ministry
has reiterated that kindergarten teachers must highly regard children's safety.
Those who sponsor substandard kindergartens -- safety, hygiene and other
conditions which fail State relevant standards -- will be punished.
China began to establish the National Teachers' Day in 1984 to help lift
social status of teachers, who had been degraded during the "Cultural
Revolution" (1966-76).
