The Prime Minister also approved recently the Education Development Plan by 2020 which aims at improving the quality and reach of education at all levels in order to meet the demand for a high-quality workforce.
Can I replace the bold phrase by “which aims to improve”?
I have just consulted “aim” in my dictionary. I see there is only “(be) aimed at doing sth” not “aim at doing sth”. It seems to me that “aimed at” is only used in passive voice. Therefore, I am a little confused.
aim
to try or intend to achieve something
aim to do sth
We aim to finish by Friday.
b aimed at doing sth[/b]
an initiative aimed at reducing road accidents
aim for
We’re aiming for a big improvement.
aim sth at sb
to say or do something that is intended for a particular person or group of people
a program that’s aimed at teenagers
The criticism wasn’t aimed at you.
If truth be told(= subjunctive form of ‘to tell you the truth’), anyone reading the two versions would see them as meaning the same thing!
However -
‘improving’ is the gerund(verbal noun), and here, it is the verb aspect*** that is being emphasized; so that ‘aims at improving’ is stressing the direction of the action/s initiated by the E.D.P. of 2020.
‘aim to improve’ stresses the end result: after implementation, there will have been improvement in the quality and reach…
***In case you are not sure what I mean by this, consider:
[color=indigo]The building that stood there has been demolished.
Here, the gerund functions as a noun, referring to the structure that once stood there (after it was built!)
[color=indigo]The building of new highways was a top priority in the post-war years.
Here, while it is still a noun, the gerund emphasizes the action of constructing these highways.
Thanks Bazza! I see it.