China, People's Republic of: Guangxi Nanning Vocational Education Development Project

Education - Pre-primary and primary - social protection initiatives - Technical and vocational education and training

Health - Health insurance and subsidized health programs

Strengthening TVET is a priority under the PRC Government's Twelfth Five-Year Plan. The plan outlines measures to establish a sound and sustainable basic public service system , with a focus on public education and medical care. The National Medium- and Long-term Education Reform and Development Plan (2010 2020) calls for preschool education to be developed so that by 2020, one-year preschool will become the norm, two-years universalized, and three-years popularized. The priorities in the National Health Care Reform include strengthening primary health care services and the grassroots health workforce. Thus, development of TVET for preschool education and health is urgently needed to meet these goals.

Nanning is the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), one of the 12 less-developed provinces and autonomous regions in the western part of the PRC and a gateway to the Pan-Beibu Gulf and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regions. The development of Nanning as a regional urban center has led to rapid urbanization and an annual growth rate of 15.5%. Industrialization has created a rising demand for skilled workers and extension of social services to provide balanced access and social development in rural and urban areas.

The Three-Year Action Plan for Preschool Education Development in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (2011 2013) will build, renovate, or expand 6,628 kindergarten schools to increase enrollment to 1.33 million and will need to employ an additional 21,000 new teachers. Currently, there is a severe shortage of qualified teachers, kindergartens, and medical personnel. In 2011, there were only 600 preschool teachers graduated in the province. Increasing the numbers and providing assessment, retraining, and certification to existing teachers are all urgent needs. Nanning Municipal Government (NMG) must build up the public social service system to respond to increased demand. In 2010, the national average was 7.6 health personnel per 1,000 urban residents but GZAR s average is only 3.6 health personnel per 1,000 residents. The Twelfth Five-Year Plan also responds to the challenge of an aging society by aiming to create improved elderly care and qualified personnel. There is an urgent need to expand the health services with well trained personnel.

Strategic fit. The project supports the PRC's Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011 2015) goals of reform of TVET and expansion of public services. The project will contribute to creating a qualified labor force and access to social services. Over 90% of the students in the TVET schools are female and from rural areas. The project aligns with the PRC's country partnership strategy of ADB and conforms to ADB's Education Policy and sector operations plan.

Special features. The project has the following demonstration features: (i) a model school for preschool teacher training that will support teacher development, student training, and curriculum improvement; (ii) development of rural health training centers to make the training curriculum for nurses and rural doctors more relevant to rural requirements. The centers will train students during their internship or refresher courses; and (iii) development of a curriculum for elderly care. To anticipate the growing elderly care industry and the need for nurses with specific skills, the project will assist in developing an elderly care curriculum in the Health TVET School.

Buildings, campus facilities, and equipment upgraded

Pilot programs implemented in project schools

TVET capacity strengthened in project schools

Project management support implemented

1. Three (CT-01, CH-01 and CH-02) of the four civil works contract packages have been signed and awarded. The bidding documents for the remaining contract (CT-02) has been reviewed but advertisement was delayed because the bidding document is being revised in consideration of new design requirement due to PRC's introduction of building fire protection design's relevant provisions.

2. Pilot programs to be closely monitored in project schools.

3. Ongoing recruitment for the TVET capacity building and management consulting package.

4. PMO fully staffed and strong commitment from PMO in project administration.