PREFACE Annual Report of Vocational Education is jointly compiled by the Central Research Institute for Vocational Education and the Vocational Department of the State Education Commission of PRC. Based on the prior two annual reports, this one makes brief analyses on five fields including the policy environment of VE (vocational edtrcation) development, development situation of vocational schools at all levels and all types, construction of teacher contingent, developmental characteristics of regional vocational education and expenditure of VE, through describing the basic situations of vocational education development in 1996. At the same time this report makes brief review and analyses on some issues of VE during the Eighth Five -year Plan period according to the practical situation of our country. While making policy description and data analyses, this annual report introduces some schools' educational and instructional experience.

The Annual Report of Vocational Education basically reflects the development situation and outlook of VE in 1996 and may take as reference to understand the general development situation of vocational education of our country.

 However due to the editors' limited ability there could have partiality in this report which expects readers to understand and revise.
Editors May, 1997