China's Education System Sees Continuous Advancement, Embracing High-Quality Development

With the introduction of a series of policy documents, China's education system has undergone significant transformations, focusing on addressing gaps in education, promoting high-quality and balanced development, and guaranteeing access to quality education for all. The 14th Five-Year Plan emphasizes the transition from "quantity" to "quality" education, with a focus on educational equity and access to quality education. The State Council of the People's Republic of China has issued a news release highlighting the country's advancement in educational equity, with significant improvements in the operating conditions of weak schools and rural schools.

Key Takeaways:

• The 14th Five-Year Plan emphasizes the transition from "quantity" to "quality" education, with a focus on educational equity and access to quality education.
• The State Council has issued a series of policy documents to address gaps in education, promote high-quality and balanced development, and guarantee access to quality education for all.
• The proportion of national fiscal education funding to GDP has been no less than 4% for more than 10 consecutive years.
• All 2,895 county-level administrative units in the country have achieved basic balance in compulsory education.
• The National Smart Education Public Service Platform has gathered more than 120,000 basic education resources, over 12,000 high-quality online vocational education courses, and more than 31,500 high-quality online higher education courses.
• China's vocational education system is being promoted to match national strategies, with a focus on developing highly qualified technical and skilled personnel.
• The Ministry of Education announced the registration and approval results of undergraduate majors in ordinary higher education institutions in 2024, with 29 new majors officially included in the 2025 undergraduate major catalog.
• The newly added majors fully reflect national strategies, market demand, and the driving force of scientific and technological development.

Statistics:

• The proportion of national fiscal education funding to GDP is no less than 4% for more than 10 consecutive years.
• All 2,895 county-level administrative units in the country have achieved basic balance in compulsory education.
• The National Smart Education Public Service Platform has gathered:

+ More than 120,000 basic education resources

+ Over 12,000 high-quality online vocational education courses

+ More than 31,500 high-quality online higher education courses

+ More than 5,000 lifelong learning courses

Sources:

• Xinhua News Agency (Beijing, September 16)
• The Outline of the Plan for Building a Strong Nation in Education (2024-2035)
• Opinions on Implementing the Action Plan for Expanding and Improving the Quality of Basic Education in the New Era
• Opinions on Gradually Implementing Free Preschool Education
• The Ministry of Education's announcement on undergraduate majors in ordinary higher education institutions in 2024