New measures a reminder to cherish teachers every day

Today marks China's 37th Teachers' Day, an occasion made more significant in light of the nationwide campaign to promote educational equality and reduce the burdens on families and students.

The authorities have enacted a series of measures to improve education in areas such as homework, online learning, after-school care and integrated school development. In order to improve overall education, schools in metropolitan areas such as Beijing and Shanghai will build closer teaching communities through the exchange of teachers as well as joint research and evaluation.

Thanks to the country's continued efforts to improve the treatment of teachers, the number of individuals in the profession has reached 17.93 million, an increase of 609,400, or 3.52 percent, compared to 2020, according to statistics from the Ministry of Education . In 2021, the number of kindergarten teachers and teachers at higher education institutions grew by 5.44 percent and 5.34 percent respectively, and a total of 1.9 million people in the country gained teaching certificates.

The new regulations recently issued and the increasing number of teachers both reflect the development of China's education industry and raise the confidence teachers have in their careers.

Teaching has always been a noble profession in China from ancient times. In Chinese culture, teaching is like cultivating a garden, so teachers are considered gardeners. The fact that more and more people are willing to enter public education represents the increased recognition of and support for the profession among the public and nation. For example, the central authorities have ensured that, starting last year, salaries for public primary and middle school teachers are not lower than those of local government officials in the same region. Plus, many areas are implementing new measures to recruit public school teachers and encourage more college students to major in education.

The student-to-teacher ratio will be reduced thanks to the increasing number of teachers, so the new generation of teachers can help share in the vital and challenging work to invigorate schools.

An increasing number of teachers also benefits society, given that education is fundamental to a country's growth and teachers are the key to realizing that goal. With a growing number of talent opting to be teachers, the overall quality of Chinese people can be further improved. Additionally, the growing number of special education teachers and rural teachers will bolster the weakest links in education system.

Ultimately, all of these new measures and moves aimed at boosting education should serve as a reminder that our nation ought to appreciate the critical workforce on the front lines. Let's cherish our teachers every day of the year.

The author is a writer with China Daily. The views are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of China Daily.