Beijing authorities to train more teachers for elementary education

Beijing plans to train more teachers to tackle a shortage, especially in elementary education, according to local educational authorities. An additional 1,000 students will be recruited every year by three major universities－Capital Normal University, Teachers' College of Beijing Union University, and Capital University of Physical Education and Sports－in Beijing from 2018 to 2022, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission says.

Majors in music, fine art and art education will be encouraged in four other Beijing universities to become teachers, the commission says in a guideline.

Vocational colleges in Beijing will expand enrollment of students majoring in elementary education, the commission says. Government funds will be allocated to pay part of their tuition fees and other expenses.

An additional 1,000 teachers will also be hired nationwide to teach history, geography, politics and biology at primary and middle schools between 2018 and 2020, to tackle the shortage of teachers in these areas.

China allowed couples to have two children from 2016 in response to the nation's aging population, but the number of teachers has not kept pace with the number of newborn children.

Official statistics show that there were 17.23 million babies born in 2017.

A report from the Center for Education Policy of Southwest University shows that demand for preschool education will see a sharp increase from 2019 before reaching a peak in 2021.

The report says there will be a shortfall of 3 million kindergarten teachers nationwide by 2021.

The State Council has issued a plan on educational development for the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), with the aim of making the country's preschool education more inclusive.