The Chinese government has put 20 million yuan (about US$2.42 million) into establishing 50 bases to train teachers for vocational schools, 35 in colleges and the rest in vocational schools, said an official with the Ministry of Education.

According to the edition of the "China Youth Daily", the government has also designated a further 20 million yuan in developing over 100 multi-media teaching software and over 1,000 teaching materials for vocational education in the next three to five years.

Experts have urged reform for the country's vocational education. Most Chinese vocational schools have used the same teaching materials for decades, while almost all the teachers have little practical experience, according to the newspaper.

With increased enrollment for colleges, many junior high school graduates choose to continue their studies, rather than going into vocational studies.

Only half of the vocational school teachers have qualified diplomas and many middle-aged and young teaches lack practical pedagogical experience, the daily said.

Yang Jing, an official from the Education Ministry, said that the ministry will issue a teaching program for vocational high schools in 2000, and the ministry will encourage university graduates to become vocational school teachers.

Vocational schools will also adopt a credit system, he said. Students will be able to choose their majors according to their individual interests.