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Participants write down their answers during
the 2005 national postgraduate entrance exam at Jiangsu Polytechnic
University in Changzhou of East China's Jiangsu Province January 23,
2005. (newsphoto)
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Postgraduate study is red-hot across the nation, with long queues this
year heading into postgraduate exams and equally long queues heading out
onto the job market.
About 1.2 million applicants registered for the national entrance exam
which concluded yesterday, according to the Ministry of Education.
The record-breaking number is 24 per cent more than last year's batch
of test-takers. And the rapid growth rate has remained constant for five
consecutive years.
On another tack, more than 200,000 postgraduates are expected to finish
up their studies this year. And next year may see as many as 360,000.
Most of them are competing with a large number of bachelor
degree-holders in the country's crowded job market.
The ministry has explained that the rapid
development of the economy in the science and technology arenas is
increasing the demand for high-end professionals, which in turn stimulates
the expansion of postgraduate enrollment
.
Statistics show that more than half of postgraduate applicants are
college graduates this year.
Students whose majors involve high technology said they find it far
more necessary to become further educated to do well in the job market.
The numbers in school also ease the employment tension when jobs are
scarce, said the ministry.
But as employment pressure rise, complaints and doubts are also rising
about the policy of expanding enrollment for undergraduates and
postgraduates.
Chen Wenshan, a master's degree-holder at Beijing Normal University,
said she assumed a higher degree would help her get a satisfying job more
easily two years ago when she sat the postgraduate entrance exam.
"But it turns out I have the same difficulties," said Chen, whose
classmates are all still seeking jobs.
However, professor Guo Yingde at Beijing Normal
University, criticized many postgraduates on choosing to swarm into
a handful of hot industries
and big cities with too much expectations about future jobs.
The employment rate of postgraduates in the past two years remains much
higher than graduates, he said.
Surveys show undergraduates seem to have more job choices and
postgraduates are more competitive in fields such as research and
education.
"It is a personal problem if a postgrad cannot find a job," said Guo,
citing an example that there is a great demand for teachers in some
western areas but few students consider going there.
He said although both graduate and postgraduate enrollments are
increasing, the proportion between the two has remained stable, which is
rational.
Moreover, he pointed out, the country still needs to raise the
proportion of undergraduates and postgraduates, which is at a
comparatively lower level compared with developed countries.
"Those top-notch universities should divert their focus to postgraduate
education and send more highly skilled people to meet the needs of
society," Guo suggested.
He also called on educational authorities to adopt new policies, which
"should allow more students in but only the qualified out," to improve the
quality of postgrads.
Professor Wang Hongguang at Beijing Agricultural University agreed with
Guo on his viewpoints and added the current education system should be
changed from focusing on higher education to strengthening the whole
nation's education system, including elementary education and continuing
education.
"The key to solving the employment problem lies in educating people
according to the demands of society," he said.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2005-01-24 13:55