Thumbs up for hands-on knowledge

The cultivation of a vast, technically proficient workforce requires a change in mindset and - more difficultly - in traditional culture. Redefining priorities at the get-go stage, such as the national college entrance exam, is a wise decision.

An official of the Ministry of Education recently disclosed that China's all-important college entrance examination is to be seperated into two, giving place to the training of highly skilled workers.

To grasp the full impact of this measure, it is necessary to alert ourselves to the split nature of our job market for college graduates. On the one hand, millions of new graduates face tough competition each year, leaving many without a job offer and struggling on the outskirts of urban centers; on the other hand, many vacancies cannot be filled as employers fail to find suitable candidates.