The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province will prioritize building a high-quality and balanced basic public education service system and a high-quality education system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), according to local officials.

The port city of Qingdao aims to build a high-quality education system in the coming five years. [Photo/VCG]

Affordable preschools will be the main priority of the campaign, said local authorities, who added that the city will increase the number of affordable public and private kindergartens.

All districts and county-level cities in Qingdao are expected to meet national standards for preschool education. Public-interest pre-school education will be encouraged in the city, while more measures will be launched to help private kindergartens overcome difficulties.

Qingdao will also work to develop boarding schools in townships and towns, small rural schools, and schools in county seats.

In addition, it will provide high-quality special and continuing education and offer support to private schools while also keeping them well-regulated.

The city will also work to bring more substance to higher education in a bid to foster world-class universities and disciplines.

Vocational education will be another focus of the Qingdao government in the coming five years.

The city will ensure a steady level of investment into education, improve the allocation of educational spending, and narrow the gap between urban and rural areas, between regions, and between schools so as to make educational resources accessible to all families and children in the city, said local officials.

The city plans to build, renovate, or expand 200 kindergartens and primary and secondary schools over the 14th Five-Year Plan period. By 2025, it will be home to 40 universities, with a total of more than 500,000 students enrolled.