New Textbooks in China Emphasize Traditional Culture, National Security, and Practical Skills

This fall semester, primary and middle schools across China are introducing newly revised textbooks that emphasize traditional Chinese culture, national security, and practical skills. The Ministry of Education announced the rollout of these revised textbooks for moral education and law, Chinese language, and Chinese history.

The revisions, two years in the making, will be implemented gradually, starting with first graders in primary school and seventh graders in middle school. By 2026, the new textbooks will be used across all grade levels in China's nine-year compulsory education system.

Liu Hongjie, deputy director of the Ministry's Department of National Textbooks, explained that the revised books include more content related to traditional Chinese culture and promote education about national security. They also place greater emphasis on labor, national defense, safety, and health.

The new language textbooks now feature 353 traditional Chinese cultural works, including excerpts from the Book of Songs and essays by ancient philosophers. They also incorporate more revolutionary classics such as the diary of Lei Feng, a soldier who became a national symbol of selfless service. Additionally, new material highlights the achievements and spirit of astronauts, scientists, educators, and front-line workers.

The updated history books, starting with the seventh grade, have expanded by 17 pages and include 25 new images compared with previous versions. Zhang Haipeng, who led the revisions, said they now feature photographs of cultural relics and historical sites to better narrate history. Artifacts and map coordinates from the ancient city of Liangzhu, for example, illustrate the emergence of an early state in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River around 5,000 years ago.

To enhance students' understanding of national security, the revised history books also include information on China's border conflicts with India and Vietnam.

The Ministry of Education said the difficulty level of the textbooks for first graders has been lowered to ensure a smooth transition from kindergarten to primary school. The revisions are based on the new curriculum standards for compulsory education, issued in March 2022, which emphasize developing students' key competencies and practical abilities.