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China unveils plan to build 'strong education nation' by 2035

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  • China unveils plan to build 'strong education nation' by 2035
  • January 20, 2025
  • Article Body Text BEIJING — <p>China issued its first national action plan to build a &quot;strong education nation&quot; by 2035, which it said would help coordinate its education development, improve efficiencies in innovation and build a &quot;strong country.&quot;</p> <p>The plan, issued Sunday by the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, aims to establish a &quot;high quality education system&quot; with accessibility and quality &quot;among the best in the world.&quot;</p> <p>The announcement was made after data on Friday showed China's population <a href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AP8N3N605F&amp;linkedFromStory=true">fell</a> for a third consecutive year in 2024, with the number of deaths outpacing a slight increase in births, and experts cautioning that the downturn will worsen in the coming years.</p> <p>High childcare and education costs have been a key factor for many young Chinese opting out of having children, at a time when many face uncertainty over their job prospects amid sluggish economic growth.</p> <p>&quot;By 2035, an education power will be built,&quot; the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that China would explore gradually expanding the scope of free education, increase &quot;high-quality&quot; undergraduate enrolment, expand postgraduate education, and raise the proportion of doctoral students.</p> <p>The plan aims to promote &quot;healthy growth and all-round development of students,&quot; making sure primary and secondary school students have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control the myopia, or nearsightedness, and obesity rates.</p> <p>&quot;Popularizing&quot; mental health education and establishing a national student mental health monitoring and early warning system would also be implemented, it said.</p> <p>It also aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to improve the operating conditions of small-scale rural schools and improve the care system for children with disabilities and those belonging to agricultural migrant populations.</p> <p>The plan also aims to steadily increase the supply of kindergarten places and the accessibility of preschool education.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date January 20, 2025 03:32 EST
  • Byline Reuters
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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