There were 77 regular higher education institutions (HEIs) throughout the province (including those in preparation) at the end of 2008. The total number of graduate students admitted in 2008 by HEIs and research institutions was 13,691, and that of graduate students at school was 35,812, and 8,944 students graduated. The total number of students admitted by the regular HEIs’ bachelor degree programs and sub-degree programs in 2008 was 265,700, and that of students at school was 832,200, and 203,200 students graduated. The admission rate of the college entrance examination was 75%, an increase of 3% compared with that of the previous year. The gross enrollment rate of higher education reached 40%, up 2% over the previous year. The total number of students admitted by regular secondary vocational schools of all types in 2008 was 263,500, and that of students at school amounted to728,800, and 246,700 students graduated. The total number of students admitted by regular senior high schools was 281,900, and that of students at school was 848,200, and295,900 students graduated. The total number of students admitted by junior high schools was 622,100, and that of students at school was 1,849,900, and 538,100 students graduated. The rate of students enrolled in senior high schools among all the junior high school graduates was 97.48%, an increase of 0.93% over the previous year. The total number of new entrants into primary schools was 557,800, and that of students at school was 3,322,800, and 624,800 students graduated. The rate of students enrolled in junior high schools among all the primary school graduates was 99.99%. Junior high school enrollment rate and non-dropout rate were 99.92% and 99.98% respectively. Achievement rate of the nine-year compulsory education reached 97.8%. The total number of new entrants into special education programs was 1,864 and that of students at school was 12,900. There were 10,212 kindergartens in the province, with the total number of kids in those kindergartens reaching 1,593,400.

Throughout the year, the whole society invested funds totaling 60 billion yuan in science and technology activities, an increase of 16.1% compared with that of the previous year, accounting for 2.79% of Zhejiang provincial GDP, 0.11% up compared with that of the previous year. The R&D funds input accounted for 1.6% of Zhejiang provincial GDP, 0.08% up year-on-year. The investment in science and technology from local finance was 8.68 billion yuan, 21.3% up. The proportion of the provincial financial allocation for science & technology in the provincial financial expenditure reached 3.93%.