BEIJING -- The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the top legislature, held a joint group session on Tuesday during its bimonthly session to discuss an inspection report on vocational education.

The event, presided over by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, marked the first time the top legislature had conducted an inquiry on a report it produced after a law enforcement inspection.

Zhang said the event, which would strengthen the effect of law enforcement, was complementary for an inquiry practice.

Posing questions to ministries on specific subjects has been a common practice adopted by the NPC Standing Committee at its sessions.

Those who were questioned by lawmakers Tuesday included vice premier Liu Yandong, Finance Minister Lou Jiwei and Education Minister Yuan Guiren.

They responded to the lawmakers with answers on how to boost the development of vocational education and improve its quality.

The bimonthly session of the top legislature runs from June 24 to July 1.

From March to May this year, Zhang headed a team to inspect the enforcement of the law on vocational education in six provinces as well as Chongqing municipality and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

According to the inspection report, which was delivered by Zhang on Monday, the inspectors, who were divided into four groups, held seminars with headmasters, teachers and human resources officials at about 70 institutions, training centers and enterprises on how to improve teaching.

This was the first time the NPC Standing Committee had organized such an event since the law took effect in September 1996, the report said.

Problems unearthed included unstable levels of investment and lack of experienced teachers.

Zhang said the inquiry mechanism should be improved to boost the development of the system of people's congresses.