BEIJING, June 29 -- More than 130 million people have graduated from vocational schools and colleges in China since a law on vocational education was promulgated in September 1996, according to a report delivered by the top legislator on Monday.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, told the bimonthly session of the legislature that China has about 13,300 vocational schools and colleges, with 30 million students.

In 2014, there were about 18 million students in secondary vocational schools, compared with 12.7 million in 1996, he said.

The number of students enrolled at vocational colleges stood at 10 million last year, an increase from 1.23 million in 1996.

Zhang said vocational schools and colleges were the main training ground for technical workers.

Along with the increasing number of students, investment in vocational education has expanded in the past 19 years.

According to the report, the annual investment surged from 114.1 billion yuan (18.4 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006 to 345 billion yuan in 2013, posting an average increase of 17 percent annually.

A project initiated in 2009 to exempt students of secondary vocational schools from tuition has benefited 34.6 million people, it said.

Over the 19 years, a proficiency evaluation system has also been established, with five levels ranging from beginner, intermediate worker, to senior technician.