The education system of the Chongming County now incorporates 108 primary schools, middle schools and vocational schools, among which there are 25 public independent junior middle schools, 27 independent primary schools, 3 schools that contain nine-year integrated curricula of primary and junior middle school education, 3 schools that contain junior and senior middle school education, 6 high schools, 35 kindergartens, 2 special schools, 6 privates middle schools, 1 private kindergarten, 1 vocational school, 18 adult school, 1 full-time university, and 1 radio and TV university. There are 55,347 primary and middle school students, 7,566 working staff members on the regular payroll, and 5,596 full-time teachers.

1. The improvement of schooling conditions. The dormitories and facilities of primary and middle schools in Chongming had remained in a humble condition until the end of the last century. Ever since the year 2000, with the support of the Education Commission of Shanghai and the Chongming Government, we facilitated the projects of “Standard-meeting of Primary and Middle School Dormitories”, “Strengthening the Construction of Middle Schools”, “Standard-meeting Construction of Kindergartens”, etc. Standards were achieved in a full scale for primary school and middle school dormitories. Meanwhile, we have adapted the experiment instruments in laboratories of primary and middle schools, completed the Internet construction of primary and middle schools, the adaptations of cafeterias of primary and middle schools and the construction of plastic playground, which have overall ameliorated the conditions of all the facilities. Currently, the schooling conditions in Chongming are in match with those in Shanghai city area, and the average dormitory space for students even excels that in the city.

2. Standardized and meticulous education management. On the one hand, strict goals have inspired the school’s ambition for autonomous development. A responsibility credential document of reaching the goal was signed by the Education Bureau and party as well as administrative leaders of schools of all levels in Chongming, which intensified the sense of responsibility, urgency and empathy of headmasters and deputy secretaries. On the other hand, the meticulous management of education and performances has strengthened the awareness of improving the education quality of schools. The Education Bureau has gradually formed a scientific management system for education as well as teaching goals, and has also established a study center for education quality management of primary and middle schools. Performance management was accomplished via the Internet. Horizontal and longitudinal comparison and analysis of all the teachers and schools were conducted, too. Feedback was also given promptly for the improvement of schools’ teaching management and discipline teaching. Thirdly, the use of modern technology has greatly boosted the benefits of education quality management. “A regional supportive platform for teachers’ research and training in rural areas” was created with efforts, which include 5 core websites: “Chongming Teaching Research and Training Web”, “Chongming Research and Training Curricula Web”, “Expansion and Research Curricula Web”, “Teachers’ Blog Groups for Research and Training”, and “Chongming Education Quality Management Web”. Fourthly, efficient management of the education process has guaranteed a steady promotion of education quality. The management of three categories of curricula: fundamental type, expanding type and research type was improved. Meanwhile, the requirements for meticulous management of every step of the curricula teaching process were met. In addition, projects such as “Act Today” and “Happy Activity Day” were activated, which explored development space for students’ moral values, knowledge obtaining, psychological and physical health as well as technical practice. “Small-class teaching” was promoted, and the attention paid to students from teachers was expanded.

3. A solid construction of the teaching team. First, the infusion of talents has guaranteed a dynamic balance of the teaching team. During recent years, more than 1,000 teachers were introduced to Chongming from other areas. The recruitment of well-educated talents has witnessed an increase, with the quality promotion of teachers been introduced. Second, solid training of teachers have promoted the professional competence of teacher. Through various ways such as “training of new teachers”, “training of head teachers” and the establishment of “consulting office”, the culture construction in offices and the construction of teacher’s moral values were put into practice. All-member training of teachers of “240” and “540” were activated in a roll according to the plan, meeting the requirement of forming a complete cycle in 5 years. The training and cultivation of cadres and teachers were conducted in cooperation with East China Normal University and Overseas School of Shanghai Jiaotong University. Fourthly, the cultivation of key teachers has promoted the leading power of education and teaching. Key teachers of the county level were selected. Currently, more than 500 teachers were in the 4^th round of selection, which include “Yingzhou Renowned Teachers and Headmasters”, leading talents in different disciplines, teaching models and teaching talents, etc. “Working Studios of Renowned Teachers” were established, with currently more than 20 studios in the 3^rd round. Fifthly, the cooperation between urban and rural areas has promoted the balanced development of the teaching resources allocation. More than 100 urban-rural cross school combinations were set up. More than 20 schools in rural and urban areas of the county signed documents in agreement to facilitate “act and evaluate in a combination”. In the recent 3 years, 8 “school groups” were established. In addition, with the support of the city’s Education Commission, three rounds of entrusted management projects were launched. Every 2 years, a batch of schools would be entrusted with excellent schools in the city center for management. Last year, “sister schools” were connected between schools in Chongming and schools in Huangpu and Jingan District. From funds to inner quality construction, schools in Chongming have received great help from schools in the central area.

4. Gradually form local characteristics. Practices were conducted for actively serving the aim of building an ecological Chongming Island, and the ecological awareness of the new generation of Chongming People must be promoted. The Education Bureau has proposed the strategic goal of building an “ecological education” brand for education development within three five-year spans, which even has made influence in national level. Now the second phase has reached an end and ideal results have been achieved. First, the “ecological education” curricula and textbook system have been constructed. Second, the organization system of “ecological education” was ameliorated. “Ecological Education Research Center” and “Ecological Science Association of Chongming County” were established, and combined teaching-research bodies with ecological education research as the core were organized. 41 “Green Schools” were selected. Thirdly, the communication platform for “ecological education” was expanded. Special websites for “Chongming Ecological Education” were set. Journals such as Ecological Education Research were issued. With the entrustment of the city’s Education and Research Office, Shanghai Local Education Research Institute was established.

5. Promote the education quality. The qualification rate for graduates of mandatory education phase has been kept at higher than 95%. The university admission rate is nearly 60%. The education quality of Chongming High School has met the mediate level of all the boarding schools in Shanghai. Second, performances in sports, art and technologies have been outstanding. For many years, Chongming County has been winning glories such as “National Demonstration Region of Extracurricular Art and Sports Activities”, “National First Prize for Millions of Students’ Sunshine Sports Activities”. Last year, the county was selected by the Ministry of Education as the national advanced county for sunshine sports. The county is influential in art education as well as science and technology education within the whole city, with quite a number of items in the leading places in Shanghai. Many items have won excellent performances in international competitions.

During the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan”, education in Chongming has put into practice the spirit during the education work conferences of the whole country, the city and the county. The medium and long-term plan for education reform in Shanghai would be promoted. With the principle of “for every individual’s development” as the fundamental substance and the reform of education management system as the handle, the education modernization in Chongming will stride forward. According to the requirements of “The Twelfth Five-year Plan” for education reform and development in Chongming County”, education in Chongming would promote four reform methods and seven key development projects during the twelfth five-year plan.

The four reform methods are: First, deepen the reform of education management system. The government education public service level would be promoted, and a facilitation system of putting education as the priority would be explored. Second, deepen the reform of human resources system of cadres. The administration, evaluation, examination and awarding systems would be ameliorated with priority. Systems that are beneficial to the reasonable flow of teachers in the region would be explored, which will in turn form an exhortative system for the growth of teachers. Thirdly, the inner system reform of schools would be promoted. The key point is to realize that the inner-school management would be standardized, institutionalized, and meticulously practiced. A modern school system would be explored, promoting that the school will face the society and have autonomous schooling systems, thus strengthening the vitality of the school. The main point is to carry out the construction of curricula and promote the localization of national curricula, as well as adding characteristics to local lessons. The performances and effects of various curricula and teaching activities would be promoted.

The seven key projects include: First, the facility construction of primary schools, middle schools and kindergartens; Second, the resource reallocation programs of urban and rural areas; Thirdly, the training program of teachers in rural areas; Fourthly, programs that will boost teaching efficiency; Fifthly, the construction of programs that will strengthen the construction of vocational schools; Sixthly, promote programs for international cooperation; Seventhly, emphasize programs for ecological education practice.