China will continue to enroll more college students this year,
but the rate of increase will hit its lowest point in 10 years, the
Ministry of Education said recently.
China plans to enroll 5.99 million college students in 2008, up
five percent from the previous year. It includes three million
students for undergraduate education and 2.99 million for
college-level vocational training.
The growth rate, which follows a nine-year downward trend, will
hit its lowest point in 2008 since China first expanded college
enrollment in 1997.
The ministry did not give the reason for the trend but a rising
rate of unemployment in China is a possible factor.
About 20 percent of university students who graduated in 2007
have so far failed to find employment, according to a blue paper
issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Many college graduates have turned to civil service. This
resulted in highly competitive civil servant recruitment
examinations.
Since China began organizing the examinations in 1994, the civil
service has become one of the most popular professions of job
seekers as it offers a stable income, high social status and good
welfare insurance.
In 2007, more than 530,000 applicants competed for 12,700
government jobs -- 42 people competing for each position on
average.
This year, more than 800,000 applicants will sit for the civil
service examination in December, according to a statement on the
ministry's website.
(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)