Basic Education
Zhejiang has for many years led the nation in the development of elementary education. In 1989, the goal of extending compulsory primary education in the entire province was achieved, and in 1997, the nine-year compulsory education was basically realized. Illiteracy has been eliminated among the young and middle-aged. In 2006, the coverage of 15-year compulsory education from preschool to senior high school achieved a rate of 95.1 percent. The attendance rate for children of 3-4 years old entering kindergartens reaches 87 percent, and the attendance rate for children entering the primary school and the proportion of primary school pupils going into junior high school are both over 99.9 percent.The development of senior high schools education in the province maintains continuous, high-speed, and coordinated. In 2006, among junior high school graduates, 94 percent went on to attend senior high schools, and this figure placed the province in the front ranks in the country. The ratio of numbers of students entered senior high schools and vocational middle schools were 1:1. The province boasts noted high schools such as Hangzhou Senior High School, Chunhui High School in Shangyu and Xiaoshi High School in Ningbo.
Higher Education
Higher education in Zhejiang has entered a popular stage, as 36 percent of the eligible youngsters are enrolled in colleges and universities. Currently, there are 77 universities and colleges (including those under project or construction) and 720,000 students. A number of key academic disciplines, key laboratories and talent training bases at the state and provincial level have been established. Zhejiang University, one of the national key universities, is moving toward the goal of turning into a world standard first-class university. Now 320,000 students of 37 universities and colleges have moved into six higher education parks in Xiasha, Binjiang, Xiaoheshan, the Zijingang Campus of the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, as well as in Ningbo and Wenzhou.
Educational Reform
The province aims at improving the overall quality of its citizens and all-round development of students, giving priority to bringing up students with innovative spirit and practical capability so as to meet the demand of economic and social development. In educational system, full support is given to schools run by non-governmental sectors, which results in the wholesome and steady growth of civil-run education. A number of outstanding units such as the Wanli Education Group, Zhejiang Hailiang Education Group and Zhejiang Shuren College have emerged. To build up the teaching force, the province has selected 300 young university teachers and leading scholars in their respective branches of learning, 1,000 elementary and high school teachers with the title of "Outstanding Teachers in Zhejiang" and 400 school principals with the title of "Outstanding School Principals in Zhejiang" for further training. Every year, the province recruits high-level talents from both home and abroad, and awards outstanding people who return after studying abroad.
Overall Strength in Science and Technology
Progress in science and technology plays an increasingly prominent role in the economic and social development of Zhejiang Province and technology innovations are on the increase. In 2006, a total of 40.5 billion yuan was invested in science and technology. The number of patent application and that of patent ownership recognition in the province were both the second largest in the country. Zhejiang scientific and technical personnel won 10 national awards for scientific and technological progress.The building of entities for innovation has been further strengthened. The province launched 585 key scientific projects, and initiated platforms serving basic needs of public science & technology progress as well as the requirements of industrial and regional innovations. Now, there are 18 key scientific and technological innovation platforms newly launched or operated, which have introduced or jointly founded a total of 343 innovation sectors of various kinds, among which 28 were introduced in 2006, including China (Jiaxing) Center for International Technology Transfer of Ukraine National Academy of Science, and Zhejiang Sino-Europe Technology and Talent Transfer Center. Zhejiang has 41 key laboratories and experiment bases of national level, 68 key laboratories and experiment bases of provincial level, 497 R&D centers of hi-and new-tech enterprises of provincial level including 25 enterprise-run technological centers of national level, 64 hatchers for technological enterprises including ten hatchers of national level, as well as 72 regional technological innovation service centers of provincial level including eight productivity promotion centers of national level.
Applied Scientific Research
Zhejiang also stands in the front ranks in the country in applied scientific research, allowing it to be one of the nation's leading provinces in rice seed breeding, animal husbandry, poultry raising, selective breeding of good fish strains and scientific fish cultivation, fine processing of farm and sideline products, developing and utilizing farm specialties like moso bamboo, silkworms and mulberry trees, edible fungus and bee products. In industry, the province also holds an important position in applied scientific research and development in the country in machinery, electronics, textiles, light industry, pharmaceutics and chemical engineering. The province is also advanced in the general level of science and technology for social development in such areas as environmental protection, medicine and health. Besides, remarkable achievements have been made in the study of genetic, remote control, liquid membrane separating and photoelectric technologies as well as in renewable energy including marsh gas, solar energy, wind power and tidal energy. These achievements have greatly promoted economic growth and social progress in Zhejiang Province.
Hi-Tech IndustryZhejiang has witnessed rapid development in hi-tech industries, which have gradually become the most visible source of growth of the economy. In 2006, the value added by advanced technology industries amounted to 442.6 billion yuan, with an increase of 24 percent over the previous year. The added value of hi-tech industries amounted to 94.6 billion yuan, which was 22 percent more than the year before. The province obtained the privilege to run 362 programs listed in the national Torch Project, ranking the first in the country. It has a total of 2,287 new- and hi-tech enterprises, 422 new- and hi-tech enterprises of national level, 1,096 medium and small technological enterprises of provincial level, and 38 new- and hi-tech special industrial bases of provincial level. Their income from technology, industry, and trade, income from sales, industrial output value, and foreign exchange earnings all increased by about 50 percent over those of the previous year.
