About 150 educational experts advocated for life education in the face of increasing numbers of student suicides and school violence at the 6th Forum on Life Education of Chinese Youth on Dec. 28 in Kunming, Yunnan province.

The experts, who hailed from universities, educational institutions and government organizations, emphasized that life education has become a strategy for China's educational development, and how important it is to enhance young people's sense of life value.

"The essence of education is to train people to greater know about oneself and the world, and to improve their inner quality," said Luo Chongmin, Yunnan provincial education department director. "China should help the young know the essence of life and value through life education, and help them learn how to face the frustrations of daily life."

The forum was hosted jointly by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Yunnan Provincial Department of Education. The 2-day forum focused on carrying out actions on life education.

"It's an opportunity for the development of life education", said Chang Rongjun, executive vice chairman of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation.

Chang believes life education should be carried out at different regions according to local characteristics and circumstances, which includes promoting life-education philosophy at school and establishing institutions for better communication and interaction.

Lin Siling, vice director of Taiwan's Fu Jen University, believes that the development of life education should not only rely on teachers and students, but also should call for the whole society to provide an agreeable environment for teenagers.

In 2005, the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation promoted a series of non-profit activities on teenager education. Since then, the foundation has been popularizing life education through forums, seminars, and campus activities. After five years, 50 experts have made the forum an authorized, academic base.