Page 25 - REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT

in spending per student.
We steadily intensified efforts to shore up weak links in rural compulsory

education, largely resolved the problem of oversized classes in urban schools, and
made strides in providing schooling for children of rural migrant workers in cities.
The retention rate in nine-year compulsory education rose from 93.8 percent to 95.5
percent.

We saw to it that compulsory education was provided as an overall state
responsibility; and we guided and regulated the development of private schools.
The burden on students in compulsory education was reduced. The health of our
young people improved. The nutrition improvement program was continued,

benefiting over 37 million students every year. We ensured that teachers, especially
those in rural schools, received their pay packages in full.
The provision of preschool education was increased through multiple channels.
The gross enrollment ratio for senior secondary education rose to over 90 percent.
Vocational education was made more adaptable, and conditions in vocational

schools were steadily improved.
We took active yet prudent steps to advance comprehensive reform of the
college entrance examination system and raised the gross enrollment ratio for
higher education from 45.7 percent to 59.6 percent. Universities and colleges

continued to enroll more students from central and western regions and rural areas.
The cap was significantly raised for government-subsidized loans to college
students from families with financial difficulties.
We launched a plan that enables institutions of higher learning to recruit

students who excel in basic academic disciplines, as well as a plan to cultivate top
talent in basic disciplines. We opened 288 training centers for high-performing
students in basic disciplines and continued to develop world-class universities and
world-class disciplines. By doing so, we have laid a solid foundation for talent

development.
Our ability to provide medical and health services was enhanced. We
conducted extensive activities to advance the Healthy China initiative and
deepened the reform of medical and healthcare systems. We made basic medical
and healthcare services available to the entire population as a public good and

made it easier and more affordable for people to access medical treatment.
Benefits under the basic medical insurance and serious disease insurance
schemes continued to grow, and annual per capita government subsidies for basic

24