China Announces Action Plan to Build a “Strong Education Nation” by 2035

China has announced its first national action plan on building a "strong education nation" by 2035, with the aim of setting up its education system to enhance the general strength and innovative ability of the nation. It was issued by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council to create a high-quality education system that is accessible and excellent enough to rank among the best in the world.

This follows as the recent data indicates that China's population decreased for the third consecutive year in 2024, as deaths surpassed births. Experts say this demographic decline will only worsen due to high costs of childcare and education. Many young Chinese are choosing not to have children because of economic uncertainty and concerns over job prospects.

The plan outlines ambitious goals, such as gradually increasing the scope of free education, increasing high-quality undergraduate enrollment, and boosting postgraduate education. By 2035, China aims to significantly raise the proportion of doctoral students and establish itself as an education power.

More positively, the proposal aims at a healthy growth and all-round development of students; for instance, it requires students in primary and secondary school levels to spend two hours on the playground or otherwise to eliminate such problems as myopia and obesity. There would also be national student mental health monitoring systems developed.

The plan also addresses regional disparities by improving the conditions of rural schools and expanding access to preschool education, with a focus on increasing kindergarten placements and supporting children with disabilities or from migrant agricultural families.