China pledges to train more domestic workers, underpin school-business cooperation

BEIJING -- The Chinese Ministry of Education pledged to train more domestic workers, improve the quality of such training and deepen the integration between the industry and teaching in the household service sector.

The ministry plans to ensure at least one undergraduate program and several vocational programs specializing in household services in each provincial-level locality across the nation, according to Xie Li, deputy director of the ministry's department of vocational and adult education, at a press conference Friday.

Under a current program to expand enrollments in vocational schools, a priority will be given to household service majors in a bid to train more professional workers, Xie said.

To promote school-enterprise cooperation, the ministry, working with China's National Development and Reform Commission, plans to foster at least 100 household service companies that integrate the teaching and practice of the profession.

Authorities will also support qualified businesses in opening vocational schools, Xie said.

China now offers more than 3,000 training and educational programs on household services, covering dozens of relevant majors, at vocational schools and colleges.

New majors introduced in 2019 at vocational schools include intelligent elderly care, babysitting and childcare, Xie said.