2021 marked a landmark year in the history of the Party and the nation. In line with the general direction given for education by President Xi Jinping as well as the guidelines set forth at the19th CPC National Congress in 2017, China’s education sector has made steady progress in its pursuit of high-quality development, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has laid a solid foundation for realizing goals of the 14th Five-year Program by 2025.
I. Overall progress1
In 2021, China had 529,300 educational institutions of all kinds and all levels2 with 291 million students enrolled. The number of full-time teaching staff was 18,443,700.
II．Pre-school education
There were 294,800 kindergartens across the country, up 3,117 or 1.07% on the previous year. 244,700 were affordable kindergartens3, an increase of 10,600 or 4.55% over the previous year, accounting for 83.00% of kindergartens nationwide.
The number of children enrolled in kindergartens4 reached 48,052,100, down 130,600 or 0.27% over the previous year. Children registered in affordable kindergartens totaled 42,182,000, an increase of 1,353,700 or 3.32% over the previous year, accounting for 87.78% of registered preschoolers, up 3.05 percentage points from 2020.
The gross enrollment rate5 at pre-school level was 88.1%, 2.9 percentage points higher than in the previous year.
Kindergarten faculty and staff6 numbered 3,191,000, and 87.60% of them had a junior college education.
III. Compulsory education
There were 207,200 schools for compulsory education7 across the country, with 34,880,200 newly-enrolled students8, 158 million registered students and 10,571,900 full-time teachers. 95.4% of students enrolled in the nine-year compulsory education system finished their course of study9.
1. Primary schools10
There were 154,300 primary schools, a fall of 3,700 schools or 2.34% from 2020. There were also 83,600 small teaching units (usually involving only one class with one teacher in rural areas), a decrease of 6,672 over the previous year.
Registered students nationwide totaled 17,825,800, an increase of 255,100 pupils or 1.41% over 2020. Registered students in these establishments totaled 108 million, up 545,800 students or 0.51% from 2020. Graduates numbered 17,180,300, up 777,100 or 4.74% over the previous year.
The number of primary school faculty and staff 11 was 6,600,800. The percentage of full-time teachers in primary education meeting qualification requirements12 reached 99.98%. 70.30% of the full-time teachers had a four-year college education. The student-teacher ratio was 16.33:1.
The surface area in regular primary schools across the country covered 871.2898 million m2, 25,517,300 m2 more than in the previous year. The percentages of schools with facilities and equipment fulfilling applicable standards13 were as follows: 92.60% of schools met the sports ground area (stadium) requirements; 96.76% met sports equipment requirements; 96.48% met musical instrument requirements; 96.45% met art supply requirements; and 96.16% met laboratory tools and equipment requirements.
There were 2,870,600 classes at the primary level, 10,200 more than the previous year. Large and oversized classes with 56 or more students numbered 21,000, which was 12,100 fewer than the previous year, accounting for 0.73% of the total number of classes and down 0.43 percentage points from the previous year. Of these, 482 were oversized classes of 66 students or more, 441 fewer than the previous year and accounting for 0.02% of the total number of classes, down 0.02 percentage points from the previous year.
2. Junior high schools14
There were 52,900 junior high schools (including 9 vocational junior high schools), up 66 or 0.12% from 2020, with 17,054,400 enrolled students, up 733,400 or 4.49% on 2020. Registered students in these establishments totaled 50,184,400, up 1,043,500 students or 2.12% from 2020. Graduates numbered 15,871,500, a rise of 518,600 or 3.38% over the previous year.
Faculty and staff in junior high schools15 totaled 3,971,100. The number of full-time teachers meeting qualification requirements stood at 99.91%, and 90.05% of them had a four-year college education. The student-teacher ratio was 12.64:1.
The surface area in junior high schools across the country covered 755.9370 million m2, 37,510,900 m2 more than in the previous year. The percentages of schools with facilities and equipment fulfilling applicable standards were as follows: 95.02% of schools met the sports ground area (stadium) requirements; 97.79% met sports equipment requirements; 97.51% met musical instrument requirements; 97.49% met art supply requirements; and 97.41% met laboratory tools and equipment requirements.
There were 1,098,900 classes at the junior high level, an increase of 25,500 over the previous year. Large and oversized classes of 56 or more students totaled 7,225, which was 5,470 fewer than the previous year, accounting for 0.66% of the total number of classes, and down 0.53 percentage points from the previous year. Of these, 106 were oversized classes of 66 students or more, 119 fewer than the previous year, accounting for 0.01% of the total number of classes and 0.01 percentage points lower than the previous year.
3. Compulsory education for children of migrant workers16
A total of 13,724,100 children received compulsory education in cities where their migrant parents worked, including 9,841,100 primary school students and 3,883,000 junior high school students.
IV. Special education
There were 2288 special schools across the country, an increase of 44 or 1.96% over the previous year.
The total number of students receiving special education of all types17 was 149,100, an increase of 16 over the previous year. Registered students receiving such education totaled 919,800, up 39,000 or 4.42% from 2020, of which: those attending regular classes in regular schools numbered 330,400, accounting for 35.92% of the total number of registered students receiving special education across the country.
Full-time teachers18 totaled 69,400.
V. Senior High Education
The gross enrolment rate at the upper secondary level19 was 91.4%, 0.2 percentage points higher than the previous year.
1. Regular senior high schools20
There were 14,600 regular senior high schools across the country, an increase of 350 or 2.46% over the previous year. New entrants in these schools totaled 9,049,500, an increase of 285,100 or 3.25% over the previous year, and the registered students amounted to 26,050,300, an increase of 1,105,800 or 4.43% over the previous year. The number of graduates reached 7,802,300, a decrease of 63,000 or 0.80% over the previous year.
Faculty and staff in regular senior high schools21 totaled 2,028,300, bringing the general student-teacher ratio to 12.84:1. The percentage of full-time teachers meeting qualification requirements reached 98.82%.
The total school building floor area in regular senior high schools increased 43,120,000 m2 over the previous year to 64,362,110 m2. The percentages of schools with facilities and equipment fulfilling applicable standards were as follows: 93.66% of schools met the sports ground area (stadium) requirements; 96.00% met sports equipment requirements; 95.19% met musical instrument requirements; 95.40% met art supply requirements; and 95.61% met laboratory tools and equipment requirements.
2. Vocational senior high schools22
There were 7,294 vocational senior high schools across the country, down 179 on the previous year.
The gross enrollment in vocational senior high schools23 was 4,889,900, an increase of 43,800 or 0.90% over the previous year. Registered students in vocational senior high schools totaled 13,118,100, an increase of 439,800, or 3.47% from the previous year from the previous year. The number of graduates reached 3,753,700, a decrease of 80,900 or 2.11% over the previous year.
Faculty and staff in vocational senior high schools24 totaled 695,400, bringing the general student-teacher ratio to 18.86:1. The number of full-time teachers with a four-year college degree or above stood at 93.57%. Dual-qualification teachers (with teaching and industry experience) accounted for 55.51% of full-time teaching staff.
VI. Higher education
China had 3,012 higher education institutions (HEIs) in 2021. Among them, 1,238 were regular ones (164 independent colleges included), a decrease of 11 from the previous year. This included 32 polytechnic colleges, an increase of 11 from the previous year and 1,486 higher vocational education institutes, up 18 from the previous year. There was also a total of 256 adult higher education institutes, down 9 from the previous year. There were also 233 research institutions training postgraduate students.
The number of registered students in all higher education institutions (HEIs)25 totaled 44.3 million across the country, an increase of 2.47 million over the previous year. Gross enrollment in higher education reached 57.8%, 3.4 percentage points higher than the previous year. Regular HEIs enrolled 16,366 students on average26; vocational colleges had an average of 18,403 students, while higher vocational education institutes had 9,470 students on average.
The total number of enrolled postgraduate students reached 1,176,500, of which 125,800 were for Doctoral degrees and 1,050,700 for Masters’ degrees, an increase of 70,000, or 6.32% over the previous year. The number of registered postgraduate students stood at 3,332,400, an increase of 192,800, or 6.14% over the previous year. Doctoral students totaled 509,500 and 2,822,900 were Masters students. The number of graduates in postgraduate education totaled 772,800, including 72,000 with doctoral degrees and 700,700 with Masters degrees.
Total enrollment in regular undergraduate programs increased by 53,300 or 1.21% over the previous year to 4,446,000. A total of 717,700 vocational senior high school graduates were enrolled in HEIs. The number of registered undergraduate students went up by 747,000 or 4.11% over the previous year to 18,931,000. Graduates from HEIs totaled 4,281,000, an increase of 75,900 or up 1.80% from the previous year.
41,400 students were enrolled in vocational colleges 2021, an increase of 2,946, or 7.66% from the previous year. Additionally, 15,100 vocational senior high school graduates were enrolled in undergraduate programs. The number of registered undergraduate students went up by 55,900 or 76.18% over the previous year to 129,300.
1,486 higher vocational education institutes enrolled 5,525,800 students, including 452,000 in five-year programs beginning at junior high level, down by 180,300 or 3.16%. The number of registered undergraduate students went up by 1,305,500 or 8.94% over the previous year to 15,901,000. Graduates from vocational education institutes totaled 3,984,100, an increase of 217,200, or 5.77% from the previous year.
Students enrolled in an undergraduate program in HEIs for adults increased by 4.06% or 147,700 from the previous year to 3,785,300. The number of registered students in these HEIs increased by 7.12% or 553,600 from the previous year to 8,326,500, while the number of graduates rose by 12.55% or 309,900 from the previous year to 2,779,500.
Distance education undergraduate programs enrolled 2,839,200 students, an increase of 60,100, or 2.16% over the previous year. Registered students totaled 8,739,000, an increase of 274,500 or 3.24% over the previous year. The number of graduates dropped by 4.84% or 131,900 from the previous year to 2,590,600.
A total of 6,257,800 people took the National Self-Taught Higher Education Examinations for admission to degree-granting HEIs, while 489,400 students graduated from these programs.
There were 1,885,200 full-time teachers27 in higher education, including 1,269,700 in regular undergraduate colleges; 25,600 in undergraduate-level vocational colleges; 570,200 in higher vocational education institutes; and 19,700 in adult higher education schools. The student-teacher ratio28 stood at 17.90:1 in regular undergraduate schools, 19.38:1 in undergraduate level vocational colleges, and 19.85:1 in higher vocational education institutes.
The total floor area29 of regular HEIs reached nearly 1 billion m2, marking an increase of 34,723,700 m2, or 3.30% on the previous year. The per student campus area was 58.29 m2, and the per student building floor area was 27.90 m2. The per student value of educational facilities and equipment reached RMB 17,091.23.
VII. Non-state education
In 2021, there was a total of 185,700 non-state schools in China, a decrease of 989 over the previous year and accounting for 35.08% of all schools across the country. The number of students attending non-state schools was 56.2876 million, an increase of 643,100 over the previous year and accounting for 19.34% of all students in China. More details are given below:
In 2021, there were 166,700 non-state kindergartens, a decrease of 1,254 over the previous year, accounting for 56.54% of all kindergartens in China. The number of children attending non-state kindergartens was 23.1203 million, a decrease of 665,200 over the previous year, accounting for 48.11% of the total number of children attending kindergarten in China.
In 2021, there were 12,200 non-state primary and junior high schools, a decrease of 67 over the previous year, accounting for 5.87% of all schools for compulsory education in China. The number of students attending non-state primary and junior high schools was 16.7410 million, a decrease of 108,900 over the previous year, and accounting for 10.60% of all primary and junior high school students.
In 2021, there were 4,008 non-state regular senior high schools, an increase of 314 over the previous year, accounting for 27.48% of all regular senior high schools in China. The number of students attending non-state senior high schools was 4.5034 million, an increase of 490,500 over the previous year, and accounting for 17.29% of all regular senior high school students.
In 2021, there were 1,978 non-state vocational senior high schools, an increase of 25 over the previous year, and accounting for 27.12% of all vocational senior high schools in China. The number of students attending non-state vocational senior high schools was 2.6763 million, an increase of 182,300 over the previous year, and accounting for 20.40% of all vocational senior high school students.
In 2021, there were 764 non-state higher education institutions, a decrease of 9 over the previous year, and accounting for 25.37% of all higher educational institutions in China. Among them, there were 390 regular universities/colleges, 22 bachelor-degree-awarding vocational schools, 350 higher vocational education institutions, 2 higher education institutions for adults. The number of students attending the above schools (except for higher education institutions for adults) was 8.4574 million, an increase of 544,000 over the previous year, and accounting for 24.19% of students attending all kinds of universities/colleges, bachelor-degree-awarding vocational schools and higher vocational education institutions in China.
Notes:
[1] Data from the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan province are not included in this report. Due to rounding, some totals may not correspond with the sum of the separate figures.
[2] Schools of all kinds and at all levels refer to schools approved by government and educational departments at the county level or above according to China’s laws and regulations, and schools approved by other competent government authorities at the county level or above and filed in the records of relevant education authorities. Military schools and technical schools managed by human resource and social welfare departments are excluded. This applies throughout the report.
[3] Affordable kindergartens include both public and private affordable kindergartens.
[4] The number of children enrolled in kindergartens include pupils from independent kindergartens and nursery classes offered by other kinds of schools.
[5] The gross enrollment rate for preschool education is the ratio of all children enrolled in a kindergarten or nursery class, regardless of age, to the total population of children aged three to five in China.
[6] Kindergarten faculty and staff refers to full-time preschool teachers at independent kindergartens and in nursery classes offered by other kinds of schools.
[7] Schools for compulsory education include regular primary schools, junior high schools, vocational junior high schools, and 9-year schools (i.e., schools that comprise primary and junior high grades).
[8] Number of newly-enrolled students includes students in regular primary schools, primary education establishments, junior high schools, vocational junior high schools, 9-year schools, the primary and junior high grades of 12-year schools, the junior high grades of schools that comprise both junior and senior high grades, primary and junior high grades offered by other kinds of schools.
[9] This is the ratio of the number of junior high school graduates to the total number of enrolled students in that cohort during the first grade of primary school.
[10] The number of primary schools only includes regular primary schools. The number of students includes students in regular primary schools, primary education establishments, the primary grades of 9-year schools and 12-year schools, and primary grades offered by other kinds of schools. The number of dormitories refers to dormitories of regular primary schools and primary education establishments.
[11] The number of primary school faculty and staff includes full-time teachers working at regular primary schools, primary education establishments, the primary grades of 9-year schools and 12-year schools and primary grades offered by other kinds of schools. Teachers working at other educational levels in the above-mentioned schools are not included.
[12] The percentage of full-time teachers meeting qualification requirements is the ratio of full-time teachers at a certain level who meet the applicable national minimum qualification requirements to the total number of full-time teachers at that level. The minimum qualification requirements are listed in the Teachers Law of the People’s Republic of China: Primary school teachers should have a diploma from a junior high normal school or above; junior high school teachers and teachers of junior vocational schools who teach general knowledge courses and specialized courses should have a diploma from a junior normal college, other junior college or above; senior high school teachers and teachers of junior high trade schools, technical schools and vocational high schools who teach general knowledge courses and specialized courses should have a bachelor’s degree from a normal university or a bachelor’s degree or above from another university.
[13] Different facilities and equipment used in schools (including regular primary schools, junior and senior high schools) should follow these standards: The area of sports grounds (gymnasiums) as well as the sports equipment provided should meet relevant requirements listed in the Standards on School Sports and Hygiene Facilities jointly provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Finance; musical instruments, art supplies, and tools and equipment used in natural science labs should meet relevant provincial, autonomous, or centrally administered municipality standards.
[14] The number of schools and dormitories includes data from regular junior high schools, 9-year schools, and vocational junior high schools. The number of students includes data from regular junior high schools, vocational junior high schools, the junior high grades of 9-year schools, 12-year schools and high schools that comprise both junior and senior high grades, and junior high-level classes offered by other kinds of schools.
[15] Faculty and staff in junior high schools include full-time teachers working at junior high schools, vocational junior high schools and in the junior high grades of 9-year schools, 12 year-schools and high schools that comprise both junior and senior high grades, and the junior high grades at other kinds of schools. Teachers working in other grades in the above-mentioned schools are not included.
[16] Children of migrant workers refer to school-age children who left their home village to live with their parents and receive compulsory education in a city/town where they are not registered residents.
[17] The total number of students receiving special education of all types includes students enrolled in special education schools, those in special education classes at other schools, those receiving special education in regular classes at regular schools, and those receiving special education at home.
[18] Full-time teachers include full-time teachers working at special education schools and in special education classes offered by other kinds of schools. It excludes teachers working in regular classes offered by special education schools.
[19] The senior high gross enrollment rate refers to the ratio of all students enrolled in senior high schools, regardless of age, to the total population of people aged 15 to 17 in China.
[20] Regular senior high schools include senior high schools, schools that comprise both junior and senior high grades and 12-year schools.
[21] Faculty and staff in regular senior high schools include full-time teachers working at senior high schools, the senior high grades of schools that comprise both junior and senior high grades and 12-year schools, and senior high classes offered by other kinds of schools. Full-time teachers working in other grades offered by the above-mentioned schools are not included.
[22] Junior high vocational schools include regular vocational junior high schools, vocational high schools, and vocational junior high schools for adults. Technical schools managed by human resource and social welfare departments are not included.
[23] The gross enrollment in vocational junior high schools includes data from regular vocational junior high schools, vocational high schools, vocational junior high schools for adults and vocational junior high classes offered by other kinds of schools. Data from technical schools managed by human resource and social welfare departments are not included.
[24] Faculty and staff in vocational junior high schools include teachers from regular vocational junior high schools, vocational high schools, vocational junior high schools for adults, and vocational junior high classes offered by other kinds of schools. Full-time teachers working at other class levels at the above-mentioned schools are not included.
[25] The number of registered students in all HEIs includes postgraduate students, undergraduate students, students from bachelor’s-degree-granting vocational schools, higher vocational school students, students enrolled in adult HEIs and online higher education programs, and students enrolled in self-taught higher education programs.
[26] The number of enrolled students include postgraduate students, undergraduate students, students from bachelor’s-degree-granting vocational schools, and higher vocational school students. The data excludes students enrolled in adult HEIs and online higher education programs, and students enrolled in self-taught higher education programs.
[27] The number of full-time teachers includes teachers from regular undergraduate universities/colleges, bachelor’s-degree-granting vocational schools, higher vocational school, and HEIs for adults. Data on full-time teachers at other levels of education in HEIs are not included.
[28] The student-teacher ratio in HEIs refers to the ratio of HEI students to full-time teachers. Data on students and teachers at other educational levels in HEIs are not included.
[29] The data mentioned in this paragraph include data on assets both owned and not owned by schools and institutions.
Source: All data is provided by the Ministry of Education.
