by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
China is one of the most-densely populated nations on earth, with a population of 1.4 billion people. The country’s population density is said to be 145 people per km2.
Having the highest population, equivalent to 19.24 per cent of the total world population, life is often challenging and education is one area that many invest into for a better life.
According to China Education, the country’s education system is the largest in the world, and the teaching profession historically remains a highly respected profession.
To improve its education system, the government is planning to train all its teachers on education technology skills through the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Project over the next five years.
With an increase in its use in the country, the government expects the project to bring comprehensive change to the education systems that are used in the country at present.
This will help reduce inequality in the quality of education between the urban and the rural schools in the country.
Peking University and Beijing Normal University are two major universities in China who have adopted the project and have explored ways to take advantage of the technologies in teaching and learning.
Feedback has shown the recognised potentials of MOOC, which include sharing teaching lessons among universities, reaching youth for tertiary education, and improving the quality of teaching at universities.
The move taken by the government will improve the quality, access and equity of education while it encourages private entrepreneurs and civil societies to provide skills training for employment, upgrading of skills and even reach out to rural children.
