10日下午，十二屆全國人大四次會議新聞中心舉行記者會。教育部部長袁貴仁就“教育改革和發展”的相關問題答中外記者問時表示，中國教育發展總體水平已進入世界中上行列。

請看新華社的報道：

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.
教育部部長袁貴仁10日表示，中國教育發展總體水平已達到甚至超過世界上很多中上收入國家。

袁貴仁稱，根據第三方（a third-party institution）評估報告，這個判斷的主要依據是三項關鍵數據：

Kindergarten enrollment rate was 75 percent, the average level of a medium-high income country, he said.
第一，中國學前教育毛入學率為75%，達到世界中上收入國家平均水平。

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，中國小學凈入學率99.9%，初中毛入學率為104%。中國九年義務教育普及率超過世界高收入國家的平均水平。

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，高中階段毛入學率為87%，高等教育毛入學率為40%，這兩項都高于世界中上收入國家的平均水平。

會上，有記者問:

我們知道去年BBC拍攝了一部紀錄片，記錄了中國老師在英國支教的一個場景，這也引發了大家對中西教育的討論和對比，我想請問部長的是，您怎么看中西教育的異同呢？
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.
袁貴仁說，中國有悠久的、優秀的教育傳統，我們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.
中國的教育比較注重基本知識的傳授，比較注重基本技能的訓練，比較注重行為規范的養成，再加上中國老師和學生的辛勤、刻苦、勤奮，我們在很多方面取得了優秀的成績，培養出了一些優秀的人才。

"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，我們確有自己的不足。比如，我們的學生特別是中小學生課業負擔過重，我們的學生創新精神不強，實踐能力不足。

The major aim for promoting quality-oriented education is to promote innovation and practical abilities.
因此強調，要推進素質教育，主要的目標是什么？就是要提高學生的創新精神和實踐能力。

We should develop our traditional education methods, and also absorb the successful education experiences and methods from other countries."
我們應當立足中國大地，弘揚我們的優秀文化傳統，同時我們應當虛心學習借鑒各國有益的、成功的教育做法和經驗。

（中國日報網英語點津 yaning）