China Unveils National Action Plan to Build Strong Education Nation by 2035
BEIJING, Feb 26 - China has issued its first national action plan aimed at transforming the country into a "strong education nation" by 2035, with the goal of establishing a high-quality education system that offers accessibility and quality comparable to top international standards.
The move comes as the country grapples with demographic challenges, including an aging population and declining birth rates. Data released earlier this week showed China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with more deaths than births.
Experts warn that such trends are expected to worsen in the coming years, posing significant social and economic implications for the country. Against this backdrop, China's leadership has emphasized the importance of education in driving growth and development.
The national action plan, unveiled by the Communist Party's central committee and State Council on Sunday, outlines a roadmap for building a powerful education sector that prioritizes innovation, accessibility, and quality. Key objectives include expanding free education, increasing high-quality undergraduate enrollment, and strengthening postgraduate programs.
To address pressing social issues like obesity and myopia rates among children, the plan calls for ensuring at least two hours of physical activity daily in schools and promoting mental health education nationwide.
Additionally, China aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas by improving operating conditions for small-scale rural schools, enhancing care systems for children with disabilities, and increasing access to preschool education.
"By 2035, an education power will be built," declared a spokesperson for Xinhua news agency. "China will explore gradual expansion of free education, increase high-quality undergraduate enrollment, expand postgraduate programs, and raise the proportion of doctoral students."
The ambitious plan is seen as a key component of China's efforts to build a strong economy and ensure its place on the global stage by 2049, under President Xi Jinping's signature "Chinese Dream" vision.