China’s Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee has set out the strategic direction for the country’s development during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) period. The recommendations adopted at the meeting outline new requirements for advancing education, science and technology, and talent development, and set expectations for tackling the most pressing and long-standing challenges facing the education sector. The document also calls for improving fairness and quality in schooling and supporting the all-round development of individuals.
In an interview with People’s Daily, Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng explained how education will contribute to China’s broader modernization agenda over the next five years.
Q1. How should we understand the Plenary Session’s strategic blueprint for strengthening education during the 15th Five-Year Plan period?
Huai: The conclusions of the Plenary Session, as well as General Secretary Xi Jinping’s remarks, provide the overarching framework for China’s education agenda over the next five years. They call for coordinated progress in education, science and technology, and talent development, and they highlight the political, societal, and strategic importance of education. We understand this mandate in three main dimensions:
First, the core mission of education to cultivate talent for the country’s future. The essential questions whom we educate, how we educate, and for what purpose remain at the center of building a strong educational system. Character formation and the development of future generations who can contribute to China’s long-term development remain fundamental. From this perspective, education is vital to the country’s future and must remain a sustained national priority.
Second, education, science and technology, and talent are now decisive drivers of high-quality growth. Throughout major technological and industrial transitions, the foundation has always been people and education. China is undergoing profound shifts in its development model, and new drivers of productive capacity are emerging. Education plays a key role in enabling these new drivers and strengthening the national innovation system. Advancing China’s modernization requires deeper integration of scientific research and industrial innovation, faster application of major research breakthroughs, and stronger coordination across industries, resources, and talent pipelines.
Third, high-quality and equitable education remains a core public expectation. China’s basic education system has reached the average standard of many high-income countries, but imbalances and gaps remain. Demographic changes are also reshaping demand. School-age population growth is plateauing, creating short-term pressures in some regions and potential surplus capacity in others. Cities are shifting from rapid expansion to improvement-focused development, and new urban residents expect reliable access to high-quality schools close to home. These shifts mean the educational system must adapt more quickly and respond more directly to what families and communities need.
The strategic blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan highlights two essential roles of education: supporting national innovation capacity and providing high-quality, equitable schooling for all. To meet these goals, we must remain committed to character education, respond to public expectations for fairness and quality, and — importantly — move beyond viewing education as a standalone sector and integrate it more closely into China’s broader modernization strategy and the comprehensive development of its people.
Q2. How do you assess China’s progress in education during the 14th Five-Year Plan period? What foundation has this laid for the future?
Huai: China made historic advances in education during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The goals set for the past five years were met with high quality, and the country’s overall level of education modernization now stands among the upper-middle group of nations globally. This progress gives us greater confidence and a much stronger foundation for the next stage of development under the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. I would highlight five areas of progress:
First, we have made new advances in programs combining academic learning with civic and personal development. Schools across the country now integrate both academic content and civic education; classroom learning and extracurricular practice reinforce one another; and science and humanities education advance in parallel. We have built a comprehensive education model that engages all staff and covers all stages of learning. Prioritizing student health and well-being, we now ensure that primary and secondary school students enjoy two hours of daily physical activity, and many schools have adopted 15-minute active recess. The goal is simple: students who are healthier, more engaged, and more motivated.
Second, we have achieved major improvements in the availability and quality of public education. China now operates the world’s largest educational system, and its quality has risen significantly. Compulsory education is balanced across 2,895 counties, reducing disparities. Mechanisms for supporting the children of migrant workers and students with disabilities have been strengthened. Access to early childhood education has expanded; gross enrollment has reached 92%, and a new one-year fee-waiver policy has benefited more than 12 million children. At the upper-secondary level, a national program is helping improve high schools in rural counties and smaller cities. Higher education continues to grow: the college gross enrollment rate has reached 60.8%, placing China firmly in the “universal access” stage recognized internationally.
Third, education is playing a more decisive role in supporting China’s innovation agenda. Over the past five years, China’s higher education system produced 55 million graduates, while vocational colleges provided more than 70% of newly added skilled workers for modern industries. We strengthened programs that cultivate top talent in basic research and strategic fields through initiatives such as the program for Strengthening Basic Academic Disciplines, and new reforms in engineering and the social sciences. We also launched national initiatives in basic and interdisciplinary research, supported leading-edge academic projects, and expanded platforms such as university technology-transfer centers, science parks, and new research-focused universities to accelerate the application of scientific breakthroughs.
Fourth, we’ve made great progress in comprehensive reforms across all levels of education. Reforms in basic education focus on improving high schools in counties and adjusting admissions and assessment systems to reduce excessive emphasis on entrance exams. In higher education, evaluation reforms have moved beyond reliance on a single thesis requirement in some high-level engineer-training programs. Every year, we update the national list of urgently needed disciplines and encourage the introduction of micro-majors and micro-credentials to respond more flexibly to labor-market needs.
Fifth, China’s role as a global education hub is growing. China’s international engagement in education continues to expand. There are now 36 Lu Ban Workshops, 8 overseas engineering institutes, and 22 global teacher-training branch campuses in partnership with countries around the world. Smart Education of China (https://www.smartedu.cn/), China’s large-scale public digital education resource, is accessible in 220 countries and regions and offers an international version in six languages. The establishment of UNESCO’s International Research Institute for STEM Education in Shanghai adds a new platform for global cooperation and innovation in education.
Q3. What are the MOE’s main priorities for implementing the Plenary Session’s decisions and accelerating progress during the 15th Five-Year Plan?
Huai: Implementing the conclusions of the Plenary Session and the recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan will be a major priority for China’s education system in the coming years. As we look back on the achievements of the 14th Five-Year Plan and prepare for the next phase, our work will continue to focus on developing well-rounded learners, building a high-quality educational system, and strengthening the country’s capacity for scientific and technological innovation. To do this, we are planning a series of major strategic tasks, policy measures, and flagship projects, supported by detailed work plans and extensive research. Our priorities include the following:
First, placing student development at the center of all reforms. We will strengthen curriculum reforms that integrate academic learning, civic education, and personal development across all school levels. Universities and schools will develop new teaching materials rooted in China’s social sciences and original scholarship. We will also continue improving student well-being by expanding physical and cultural activities, piloting “healthy schools,” and supporting programs that promote the physical and mental health of young people.
Second, expanding China’s capacity to cultivate top scientific and innovative talent. A key priority is differentiated reform across higher education institutions. We will use the national talent data platform to better match academic programs with labor-market and strategic needs. In cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, we will pilot new training models for top innovators. This includes bringing together faculty and resources from universities, enterprises, and research institutes to create interdisciplinary teams and accelerate talent development. Vocational training will also continue to evolve. In six major advanced manufacturing sectors, we will launch new programs that train cohorts of highly skilled workers.
Third, deepening the integration of scientific research and industrial innovation. We will expand national programs in basic and interdisciplinary research and establish new national centers for cross-disciplinary work. Universities will play an even stronger role as engines of fundamental research and sources of major scientific breakthroughs.
We will also strengthen technology-transfer channels by building more regional transformation centers and advanced research institutes, working together with local governments, financial institutions, and industry to ensure research results can move more quickly into real-world application. Young scientists will receive greater support through dedicated programs at central universities, helping them pursue original and disruptive innovation.
Fourth, improving the quality and accessibility of public education services. To address shifting demographics, we will expand the supply of schooling in cities experiencing a net inflow of young families, improve standards for compulsory-education schools, and upgrade boarding facilities where needed.
We will continue implementing the program to revitalize county-level high schools. In higher education, we aim to expand access to high-quality undergraduate programs while maintaining a strong focus on teaching quality. Support for the teaching profession will also be strengthened, including initiatives to enhance teacher development, career pathways, and workplace conditions.
Fifth, advancing comprehensive reform and expanding international cooperation. We will continue reforming evaluation and admissions systems. This includes reducing reliance on narrow academic indicators, enabling engineering master’s and PhD candidates to apply for degrees based on practical achievements, and pushing forward reforms of the national college and lower-secondary entrance exams. Digital transformation will remain a major focus. We will use artificial intelligence, big data, and other technologies to develop future-oriented teachers, classrooms, learning centers, and schools.
On international engagement, we will expand high-level educational cooperation by strengthening the “Study in China” brand, supporting international summer schools and global scientific programs, and improving China’s ability to train and attract global talent. China will continue to play an active role in global education governance.
