Shanghai ups skills

Higher education is now open to all senior high-school graduates in Shanghai, China's economic and financial centre.

More than 70 per cent were accepted by the city's institutes of higher learning. The remainder attended community colleges and a variety of night colleges attached to universities.

The city has invested several billion yuan in improving schools and colleges at various levels, and has achieved its goal of providing a 12-year education system for its young people. Fifty colleges have been merged to create 38 stronger institutions.

In addition, there are four higher technical colleges and 40 adult colleges. "We provide opportunities for every student who wants to receive a higher education," said Zhang Weijiang, director of the Shanghai municipality education commission.