BEIJING -- The number of teachers in China has reached 17.93 million, an increase of 609,400, or 3.52 percent, compared to the year 2020, statistics from the Ministry of Education showed.

Of all subcategories, the number of special education teachers saw the most prominent growth, which is 6.11 percent higher than in 2020, said the ministry at a Wednesday press conference.

The numbers of kindergarten teachers and teachers at higher education institutions grew by 5.44 percent and 5.34 percent respectively, according to the ministry.

In 2021, a total of 1.9 million people in the country gained teaching certificates, the ministry added.