Gao Huifang (right) learns how to make Chinese pastries with other residents from Shuangjing new village, Ligezhuang town, Jiaozhou county-level city, Qingdao city, Shandong province, at a night school class in the hamlet. She recently mentioned: “I used to watch TV at home if I had nothing to do at night. Now I look forward to making steamed buns and learning new skills after work. Instructors teach us as a group, and the experience is stimulating and fulfilling.” (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
This year, Jiaozhou county-level city, Qingdao city, Shandong province, established 35 evening schools that cover subjects like nursing, pastry making, welding, forklift operation, a traditional Chinese folk dance known as Yangko, and law at existing venues in 24 of its villages and communities. The institutions operate according to the motto “learn what is not well-understood, and teach what is needed;” their current offerings are, therefore, voted upon by the people who live near them. The much-appreciated, down-to-earth courses enrich participants’ spiritual and cultural lives, help them improve their entrepreneurial skills and become more prosperous, and assist with development and vitalization in Jiaozhou’s rural areas.