China Unveils Sweeping Education Reforms in 15th Five-Year Plan

Major Educational Overhaul Planned for 2026-2030

China is poised to introduce extensive reforms to its education system as part of the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, spanning from 2026 to 2030. The recommendations for this strategic blueprint were adopted in October 2025 during the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. These reforms are designed to broaden access to education, alleviate financial burdens on families, and cultivate a more skilled workforce for the nation's future development.

Expanding Free Education and Compulsory Schooling

A central pillar of the new plan involves the steady expansion of free education. Momentum for this initiative began in August 2025, when the State Council issued a guideline to gradually implement free preschool education. This policy, which took effect in the autumn semester, waived education fees for students in their final year at public kindergartens, benefiting approximately 12 million children.

Experts suggest that the initial focus for expanding free education will likely be at the preschool level, with proposals to gradually extend free preschool education from one year to three years. The declining birth rate is noted as a factor making this financially feasible. While China already provides nine years of free and compulsory education covering primary and junior high school, the new plan also proposes expanding free senior high school education in regions with adequate resources.

Furthermore, the 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for exploring the extension of the length of compulsory education. Although the Ministry of Education previously indicated that extending compulsory education to 12 years to include senior high school was not immediately feasible, the renewed emphasis in the upcoming plan signals a strategic re-evaluation of this possibility.

Objectives: Equity, Talent, and Human Capital

The overarching goals of these educational reforms are multifaceted. They aim to:

• Reduce family education costs, thereby supporting fertility-friendly policies.
• Build a more skilled workforce to meet future economic demands.
• Promote greater educational equity across different regions and social groups.
• Shift the national investment philosophy towards 'investing in people' and human capital development.
• Cultivate top-tier talent, particularly in science and technology, to drive economic and social development.

The plan also highlights the importance of aligning higher education with national development strategies and fostering a knowledge-based economy. This includes expanding and enhancing the higher education system, with increased enrollment in high-quality undergraduate programs.

Implementation and Regional Initiatives

Implementation of these reforms is expected to follow a phased and region-specific approach, with economically developed areas potentially piloting new initiatives. For instance, Shandong province aims to ensure adequate student capacity in high schools by 2026 and achieve universal affordable preschool education in over 60 percent of its counties and county-level districts by 2027. The Xizang autonomous region has already implemented 15 years of free education since 2012, providing a precedent for extended educational access.