The blueprint for building a strong education nation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period has been officially unveiled. The State Council recently issued the Education Development 15th Five-Year Plan, systematically laying out targets, key tasks, and policy measures for the period. A responsible person from the Ministry of Education answered journalists' questions, explaining the plan's overall framework and implementation path.
The plan was formulated against the backdrop of profound changes in China's development environment. Internationally, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, intensifying competition for talent and technological leadership. Domestically, the country faces new challenges such as high-quality development, demographic shifts, and accelerated urbanization. The plan stresses that education must play a foundational and guiding role, advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent to support modernization and well-rounded individual development.
Drafting was led by a specially established ministry leadership group and proceeded through multiple stages. Initial efforts involved over 80 strategic consultations and studies on key issues, along with multiple rounds of feasibility assessments for major engineering projects. Subsequently, starting in 2025, more than 10 symposiums were held to solicit opinions from localities, schools, enterprises, and experts, supplemented by online public suggestions. After extensive feedback, the text was submitted to the State Council for approval and issuance.
The plan is structured into five parts. Part One presents the guiding ideology and main objectives. Part Two deploys 23 key tasks across five strategic areas: fostering virtue and education, supporting science and technology, improving public education services, building a high-quality teacher workforce, and expanding education opening-up. Part Three, a first for a five-year education plan, dedicates a chapter to layout planning, addressing resource allocation, regional coordination, and talent cultivation in response to demographic and industrial changes. Part Four proposes six comprehensive reforms covering development philosophy, synergy between science, technology and talent, management systems, evaluation reform, digital transformation, and investment mechanisms. Part Five emphasizes implementation and the Party's overall leadership. Additionally, 15 major projects are outlined, including a plan to enhance ideological guidance and a new round of 'Double First-Class' construction.
To ensure implementation, the Ministry of Education will focus on publicity and interpretation, establishing a coordinated promotion mechanism, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation. Future steps include unifying consensus through training and outreach, urging local governments and schools to develop actionable plans, integrating tasks into annual plans, and securing support through fiscal budgeting. A regular monitoring and evaluation system will also be established to periodically review progress.