来源：中国日报网 

10日下午，十二届全国人大四次会议新闻中心举行记者会。教育部部长袁贵仁就“教育改革和发展”的相关问题答中外记者问时表示，中国教育发展总体水平已进入世界中上行列。

 

Yuan Guiren, the minister of education, speaking on March 10.

请看新华社的报道：

 

The quality of education in China is on a par with, or even exceeds, many medium-high income countries, Minister of Education Yuan Guiren said Thursday. 

教育部部长袁贵仁10日表示，中国教育发展总体水平已达到甚至超过世界上很多中上收入国家。

 

袁贵仁称，根据第三方（a third-party institution）评估报告，这个判断的主要依据是三项关键数据：

 

Kindergarten enrollment rate was 75 percent, the average level of a medium-high income country, he said. 

第一，中国学前教育毛入学率为75%，达到世界中上收入国家平均水平。

 

The net enrollment rate of primary schools and the gross enrollment rate of junior high schools were 99.9 percent and 104 percent, he said. The attendance rate for nine-year compulsory education surpassed the average level of high-income countries, said the minister. 

第二，中国小学净入学率99.9%，初中毛入学率为104%。中国九年义务教育普及率超过世界高收入国家的平均水平。

 

The gross enrollment rates of senior high schools and higher education were 87 percent and 40 percent, both above medium-high income countries, Yuan said. 

第三，高中阶段毛入学率为87%，高等教育毛入学率为40%，这两项都高于世界中上收入国家的平均水平。

 

会上，有记者问:

 

我们知道去年BBC拍摄了一部纪录片，记录了中国老师在英国支教的一个场景，这也引发了大家对中西教育的讨论和对比，我想请问部长的是，您怎么看中西教育的异同呢？

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT: The BBC documentary Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School triggered a heated debate on differences and similarities between British and Chinese education.

 

What he said:

 

"China has a long and excellent history and tradition in education, and we have formed our educational characteristics and models. 

袁贵仁说，中国有悠久的、优秀的教育传统，我们形成了自己的特色和模式，

 

Chinese education puts more focus on teaching knowledge, basic skills training and discipline. Plus, thanks to the hard work of Chinese teachers and students, we have made excellent achievements in education and cultivated a lot of talent. 

中国的教育比较注重基本知识的传授，比较注重基本技能的训练，比较注重行为规范的养成，再加上中国老师和学生的辛勤、刻苦、勤奋，我们在很多方面取得了优秀的成绩，培养出了一些优秀的人才。

 

"But we also have shortcomings. For example, our students, especially in primary and middle schools, bear a heavy course load. Our students lack innovation.

“但是，我们确有自己的不足。比如，我们的学生特别是中小学生课业负担过重，我们的学生创新精神不强，实践能力不足。

 

The major aim for promoting quality-oriented education is to promote innovation and practical abilities. 

因此强调，要推进素质教育，主要的目标是什么？就是要提高学生的创新精神和实践能力。

 

We should develop our traditional education methods, and also absorb the successful education experiences and methods from other countries."

我们应当立足中国大地，弘扬我们的优秀文化传统，同时我们应当虚心学习借鉴各国有益的、成功的教育做法和经验。