China has announced its first national action plan to build a 'strong education nation' by 2035. The initiative, introduced by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to create a 'high-quality education system' that ranks among the best globally, emphasizing accessibility, innovation, and efficiency.
The news comes after data showed that China's population shrank for the third straight year in 2024, with deaths outnumbering births. Experts predict the trend will worsen as high childcare and education costs discourage young people from having children amid economic uncertainties.
The 2035 plan has included measures to increase accessibility and quality in education. China will extend the scope of free education, increase enrollment in high-quality undergraduate programs, and significantly increase postgraduate and doctoral education opportunities. The blueprint also focuses on student well-being, proposing mandatory two-hour daily physical activity for primary and secondary students to combat myopia and obesity.
Another priority is mental health education, which will 'popularize' mental health awareness and establish a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system. The initiative also addresses the urban-rural divide, improving rural schools' infrastructure, supporting children with disabilities, and enhancing care for children from agricultural migrant populations.
To enhance early childhood education, this plan would establish more kindergarten spaces and enhance accessibility to preschool facilities. The government believes that all these steps would ensure overall development of the students, promising a better future for China's new generation.
In this way, China will look to create a comprehensive educational system. This would meet its long-term objectives of being a leader in national development as well as in innovation.
