Trainees participating in education and training programs of standard spoken and written Chinese, understanding of the law, vocational skills and deradicalization at vocational education and training centers in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have all graduated, a regional official said Monday.
With the help of the government, they have achieved stable employment, improved their quality of life and been living a happy life, said Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the regional government, at a press conference in Beijing.
Faced with the severe situation of frequent violent and terrorist activities, Xinjiang established vocational education and training centers to teach skills in accordance with the law, the official said, adding that the number of attendees continuously changes, with students coming in and out of programs frequently.
Foreign media reports claiming that there were "up to one million or even two million" trainees at the centers are purely fabricated and totally groundless, the official said.
"Practice has proven that the establishment of vocational education and training centers is a useful move to explore measures for counter-terrorism and deradicalization," Shohrat Zakir said.
Next, in order to meet the wishes of primary-level officials and the people for self-improvement, Xinjiang will offer regular and open education and training to village officials, Party members in rural areas, farmers and herdsmen and unemployed middle school graduates who have the willingness and need for such education, the official said.
The education and training will be carried out based on principles under which trainees' wishes and independent choices are respected, he said, adding that attendees are free to join or quit programs at any time.
Training programs will be tailored to meet trainees' needs, and the periods of programs will vary based on the courses, the official said.
