More than 3,000 people attended Shanghai's first training course
for marriage counselors over the weekend in the Huangpu
Library.
After passing the course exam, the students will be awarded
professional certificates authorized by the Personnel Department of
All-China Women's Federation and China International Marriage and
Family Association.
"The counselors must comprehend not only psychological
knowledge, but Marriage Law, the marriage culture and parent-child
education as well," said Zhang Hua, director of Shanghai Marriage
Instructor Training Office.
The counselors help people raise the quality of marriage and
family life, said the training office.
The students, from 23 to 71 years old, are from all walks of
life, such as psychological consultants, lawyers, teachers,
white-collar executives and neighborhood committee employees.
Eighty percent are female.
Promising job
Some of the candidates wanted the certificates to help them
engage in marriage instruction, as they found the new type of job
promising, while others wanted to solve their own problems through
the study, said the office.
"Some of the attendees are faced with marriage problems
themselves," said Zhang. "When they find psychological consulting
was not enough, they turn to specialized knowledge for help."
About 40 percent of the candidates have a good educational
background and high income, according to the office.
"Even though they are enjoying a comfortable material life,
their souls are lonely," said Zhang.
More than 30,000 couples filed for divorce in the city last
year, an increase of 12 percent from 2004.
(Shanghai Daily July 3, 2006)