The first national institute to teach emergency management will be set up by the end of this year to help tackle a growing number of emergencies and mass incidents across the country.

?The 150-million-yuan ($22 million) institute will train officials from the ministerial to the grassroots level in coping with emergencies, Qiao Renyi, executive deputy director of the National Institute of Emergency Management, told China Daily.

On the curriculum will be basic theory and methods for handling emergencies as well as case studies of typical incidents to minimize losses and prevent mishaps from turning into major public crises.

"It will offer training for more than 2,000 officials each year," Qiao said of the institute, which is affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Governance and based in Beijing.

China is facing a host of social conflicts, partially because of the widening wealth gap and widespread violations of people's interests.

Over the past few months, local governments have had to deal with emergencies ranging from assaults against primary school students and riots caused by forced demolitions to workers resorting to industrial action for higher salaries.

China set up an emergency management system in 2003 following the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

Many officials have resigned or been dismissed for failing to deal with emergency situations. They include former health minister Zhang Wenkang, sacked for the SARS cover-up in 2003, and former environment minister Xie Zhenhua, who quit in 2005 for mishandling the Songhua River pollution incident.

The country promulgated the Emergency Response Law in November 2007, stipulating regular training for officials in charge of emergency management. The establishment of a national institute of emergency management was included in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10).

Qiao also disclosed that the central government has allocated 9 million yuan for building a database on typical emergency and mass incidents to be used as a simulation lab for officials.

The Chinese Academy of Governance has already offered a few programs on dealing with emergencies.

Last month, 50 directors of provincial emergency management offices and governance schools attended a 24-day course.

Li Ming, a researcher in charge of training at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said the course offered lectures by experienced officials.

"For example, we invited senior officials who were part of rescue operations in the Wangjialing coal mine accident in Shanxi province to share their experience," Li said.

The rescue mission in March has been hailed as a miracle after 115 of the 153 workers in the flooded mine were saved after being trapped for eight days.

The course also included a 14-day study trip to Germany.

"Simulation is widely used in other countries. We plan to adopt this mode besides teaching basic theory," Qiao said.