Dazhou students undergo boat rowing training in Zhoushan. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

Three years ago, Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang province started offering free vocational training sessions to students in Dazhou, a city in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Among the trainees was Yang Xihong from Dazhou. Before coming to Zhoushan, Yang thought that he would return home after a short-term training stint.

But he decided to extend his stay to gain more skills and better job prospects through an internship at the IMC Shipyard (Zhoushan) Co Ltd. The internship was made possible with the help of the Zhoushan government and the Zhoushan Technician College.

Guided by experienced master workers, Yang and his classmates progressed quickly and were able to perform their tasks without supervision within a month.

"What they've learned in school and done at the company are very useful for their future jobs. Zhoushan companies are willing to recruit these trained students and pay them good salaries," said a teacher from the college.

Yang Cong, another student from Dazhou, said that the training he received from Zhoushan Technician College has helped him to secure a job at Zhejiang Dingsheng Petrochemical Engineering Co Ltd that pays him a monthly salary of 7,000 yuan ($1,077).

Since the labor service cooperation between Zhoushan and Dazhou commenced in 2018, the Zhoushan Technician College has trained 101 students from Dazhou, while the Zhoushan Marine School has cultivated 73 sailors from Dazhou. All Dazhou trainees have found a job in Zhoushsan and lifted their families out of poverty as a result.

A Zhoushan teacher shows Dazhou students how to operate a ship. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]