China School Route Passport
Follow the main route from preschool through nine-year compulsory education, upper-secondary choices, Gaokao, vocational study, higher education, and continuing education.
Preschool
Selected stamp: Preschool. Choose another stamp to update the route card.
China’s education system combines nine-year compulsory schooling, centrally issued standards, provincial and local delivery, vocational routes, and a large tertiary sector. The latest national education bulletin reports 440,700 schools, 280.40 million students in formal education, and 18.70 million full-time teachers in 2025. Preschool gross enrolment reached 92.9%, the nine-year compulsory-education consolidation rate reached 96.1%, upper-secondary gross enrolment was 92.0%, and higher education gross enrolment reached 61.3%. These national statistics exclude Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. [MOE]
Current System Indicators
| Preschool gross enrolment | 92.9% | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Nine-year compulsory-education consolidation rate | 96.1% | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Upper-secondary gross enrolment | 92.0% | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Higher education gross enrolment | 61.3% | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Students in formal education | 280.40 million | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Students in compulsory education | 156.88 million | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Higher education total study scale | 48.73 million | 2025 | [MOE] |
| Gaokao candidates | 12.9 million | 2026 | [State Council] |
| National fiscal education expenditure as share of GDP | 4.02% | 2024 | [MOE] |
National MOE statistics exclude Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Indicators use different populations and denominators, so percentages and headcounts should not be treated as interchangeable measures.
Access and Completion Indicators, 2023–2025
National percentage indicators for preschool, compulsory education, upper secondary, and higher education.
Source: Ministry of Education national education development bulletins, 2023–2025.
| Year | Preschool Gross Enrolment | Nine-Year Consolidation | Upper-Secondary Gross Enrolment | Higher Education Gross Enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 91.1% | 95.7% | 91.8% | 60.2% |
| 2024 | 92.0% | 95.9% | 92.0% | 60.8% |
| 2025 | 92.9% | 96.1% | 92.0% | 61.3% |
The preschool and upper-secondary measures are gross enrolment rates; the compulsory measure is the nine-year consolidation rate; higher education is the official gross enrolment rate.
From 2023 to 2025, preschool gross enrolment rose 1.8 percentage points, the nine-year consolidation rate rose 0.4 points, and higher education gross enrolment rose 1.1 points. Upper-secondary gross enrolment moved from 91.8% to 92.0% and then remained at that level in 2025. The changes are modest compared with earlier decades of access expansion, but the direction remains upward in three of the four national indicators.
System Architecture and Legal Base
China operates a nine-year compulsory education system. The common route is six years of primary school followed by three years of junior secondary school. Preschool sits before the compulsory cycle. After junior secondary education, students move into general senior secondary education, secondary vocational education, or other approved routes. Higher education includes academic and vocational programs at short-cycle, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. [MOE]
| Preschool / kindergarten | Usually 3–5/6 | About 3 years | Not part of compulsory education | Primary entry |
| Primary education | Usually from about 6 | 6 years | Compulsory | Junior secondary |
| Junior secondary education | Usually about 12–15 | 3 years | Compulsory | General or vocational upper secondary |
| General senior secondary | Usually about 15–18 | 3 years | Not compulsory | Gaokao and tertiary admission |
| Secondary vocational education | Usually about 15–18 | Commonly 3 years | Not compulsory | Employment or tertiary progression |
| Higher education | Post-secondary | Varies by qualification | Not compulsory | Short-cycle, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate |
| Adult / continuing education | Open age range | Variable | Additional route | Upskilling, qualifications, continuing study |
Typical ages are route markers, not national admission guarantees. Local entry dates, school arrangements, and transition rules can vary.
The system includes general education, vocational education, and adult or continuing education. Vocational routes can continue into higher vocational colleges and vocational bachelor’s programs, so they are not limited to direct entry into employment.
Governance: Central Rules, Local Delivery
The Ministry of Education sets national education laws, curriculum standards, degree rules, and broad national priorities. Provinces, municipalities, counties, and schools carry much of the implementation work, including school planning, staffing, finance allocation, admissions administration, and daily operation. A common legal base therefore sits alongside provincial and local differences in delivery. [MOE]
Governance Responsibilities
- National law defines compulsory schooling and degree rules.
- National curriculum standards set common learning expectations.
- Provincial and local authorities manage much of school delivery and admissions administration.
- County-level school capacity and teacher allocation remain active areas of national and local planning.
From Preschool to Lower Secondary
Preschool Education
Preschool is outside the nine-year compulsory cycle, but participation is now high. In 2025, China had 231,900 kindergartens and 32.26 million children enrolled in preschool. The gross enrolment rate reached 92.9%. Of all kindergartens, 203,100 were classified as affordable or inclusive provision, and 91.49% of preschool children were enrolled in that part of the sector. [MOE]
The legal position changed in 2025. The Preschool Education Law took effect on June 1, 2025. From the autumn 2025 semester, public kindergartens began waiving care-and-education fees for children in the final preschool year; approved private kindergartens receive an equivalent reduction based on the local public-kindergarten standard. Meals, accommodation, and other separate charges are outside that waiver. [MOE] [MOE]
Primary and Junior Secondary Education
Primary and junior secondary education form the legal core of the system. In 2025, the compulsory sector served 156.88 million students across about 180,000 schools, supported by 10.70 million full-time teachers. Primary enrolment stood at 101.78 million and junior secondary enrolment at 55.09 million. The official nine-year consolidation rate reached 96.1%. [MOE]
Student Enrolment by Stage, 2023–2025
National enrolment in millions for preschool, primary, junior secondary, and the official higher-education total study scale.
Source: Ministry of Education national education development bulletins, 2023–2025.
| Preschool | 40.93 | 35.84 | 32.26 |
| Primary | 108.36 | 105.84 | 101.78 |
| Junior secondary | 52.44 | 53.86 | 55.09 |
| Higher education total study scale | 47.63 | 48.46 | 48.73 |
Units are millions of students. Higher education uses the MOE total study-scale measure and should not be added to school-stage counts.
Between 2023 and 2025, preschool enrolment fell by about 8.67 million, or 21.2%, while primary enrolment fell by 6.58 million, or 6.1%. Junior secondary enrolment rose by 2.66 million, or 5.1%, and the higher-education total study scale rose by 1.09 million, or 2.3%. The stage pattern matters for planning because different parts of the system are moving in different directions at the same time.
Teacher ratios also differ by stage. In 2025, the primary student-to-teacher ratio was 15.76:1 and the junior secondary ratio was 13.00:1. The same bulletin reported that 85.30% of primary teachers and 95.51% of junior secondary teachers held a bachelor’s degree or above. These are staffing ratios, not class-size measures. [MOE]
Access and Special Education
The 2025 compulsory-school statistics recorded 12.74 million children of migrant workers enrolled in compulsory education, including 8.62 million in primary school and 4.12 million in junior secondary education. Special education served 927,000 students through several forms of provision; 349,900 were enrolled in special education schools, while the remainder were served through other arrangements covered by the national statistics. [MOE]
Curriculum, Subjects, and Learning Priorities
The 2022 compulsory-education curriculum revision broadened the subject structure. Science and integrated practical activities begin from Grade 1, while labor and information technology became separate named subjects. The standards also added more interdisciplinary content and clearer expectations for teaching and evaluation. [MOE]
Artificial intelligence has since moved into the school curriculum agenda. Guidance issued in late 2024 called for age-appropriate AI learning across primary and secondary education, from basic awareness in lower primary grades to technology use, project work, and advanced applications in later stages. A national AI + Education Action Plan issued in April 2026 directs local systems to incorporate AI education into curricula and expands AI literacy across school and higher education. [MOE] [MOE]
Upper Secondary Education: General and Vocational Routes
After junior secondary education, students can enter general senior secondary education or secondary vocational education, among other approved routes. In 2025, general senior secondary schools enrolled 30.40 million students. Secondary vocational education enrolled 11.19 million. The national upper-secondary gross enrolment rate was 92.0%. [MOE]
| Upper Secondary Route | Main Focus | Usual Destination | 2025 Enrolment |
|---|---|---|---|
| General senior secondary | Academic study across core school subjects | Gaokao, tertiary study, or other post-school options | 30.40 million |
| Secondary vocational | Applied and occupation-linked learning | Employment, higher vocational study, vocational bachelor’s study, or other tertiary progression | 11.19 million |
Secondary vocational education remains connected to further study. In 2025, China had 6,741 secondary vocational schools, with 3.70 million entrants and 4.05 million graduates. The sector employed about 703,200 full-time teachers, and 57.49% of teachers in professional or skills courses were classified as dual-qualified teachers. [MOE]
Gaokao and Tertiary Expansion
The national college entrance examination, Gaokao, remains the main admissions route into many higher education programs. The Ministry of Education reported 12.9 million candidates for the 2026 examination, down from 13.35 million in 2025 and the 2024 high of 13.42 million. Provincial-level regions administer examination schedules, subject combinations, and admissions under national rules. [State Council]
Gaokao Candidate Counts, 2023–2026
Officially announced candidate or applicant counts for the national college entrance examination.
Source: Ministry of Education figures reported by the State Council portal, 2023–2026.
| 2023 | 12.91 | [State Council] |
| 2024 | 13.42 | [State Council] |
| 2025 | 13.35 | [State Council] |
| 2026 | 12.90 | [State Council] |
Counts use the official annual candidate/applicant figures released before or during the examination period.
Candidate numbers rose by 510,000 between 2023 and 2024, then declined by 70,000 in 2025 and by a further 450,000 in 2026. The 2026 count is almost back to the 2023 level, with a difference of about 10,000 candidates. These figures describe exam participation pressure, not the number ultimately admitted to higher education.
Tertiary capacity continued to expand over the same period. The official higher-education total study scale increased from 47.63 million in 2023 to 48.73 million in 2025. The gross enrolment rate rose from 60.2% to 61.3%. [MOE]
Higher Education: Institutions, Programs, and Study Levels
China’s higher education sector includes academic universities, vocational bachelor institutions, higher vocational colleges, adult higher education, and postgraduate study. In 2025, the Ministry of Education counted 3,167 higher education institutions: 1,278 regular undergraduate institutions, 87 vocational bachelor institutions, 1,554 higher vocational colleges, and 248 adult higher education institutions. A further 234 research institutions were authorized to train postgraduate students. [MOE]
Regular and vocational undergraduate or short-cycle programs enrolled 39.54 million students in 2025. Academic bachelor’s programs accounted for 21.36 million, vocational bachelor’s programs 0.52 million, and higher vocational short-cycle programs 17.66 million. Postgraduate enrolment reached 4.30 million, including 753,600 doctoral and 3.55 million master’s students. These categories show why tertiary expansion cannot be described only as growth in traditional universities.
The legal structure preserves nationally recognized degree awards while institutions differ in mission and level. Admission routes include Gaokao, vocational pathways, postgraduate entrance processes, and other approved forms of entry. [MOE]
PISA 2025 and International Assessment
PISA results for China require a scope label. The 2025 cycle reports Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang (B-S-J-Z), not a full national mainland average. The OECD states that these four jurisdictions participated in PISA 2025 and met the assessment’s data-quality standards. The whole of the People’s Republic of China does not yet participate as one national sample. [OECD]
PISA 2025: B-S-J-Z (China) and OECD Average
Mean scores for science, mathematics, reading, and computational problem solving.
Source: OECD PISA 2025. B-S-J-Z covers Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang and is not a national China average.
| Science | 597 | 482 | +115 |
| Mathematics | 612 | 463 | +149 |
| Reading | 527 | 461 | +66 |
| Computational problem solving | 560 | 500 | +60 |
Unit: PISA scale score points. These values describe the participating B-S-J-Z jurisdictions only.
B-S-J-Z recorded the highest PISA 2025 mean scores in science at 597 and mathematics at 612, while its reading mean was 527. The participating jurisdictions were also above the OECD average in computational problem solving at 560. OECD trend reporting states that, compared with 2018, B-S-J-Z performed higher in mathematics, lower in reading, and about the same in science. [OECD]
Finance, Teachers, and School Capacity
The latest national spending bulletin covers 2024. Total education expenditure reached RMB 6.8899 trillion, up 6.66% from 2023. National fiscal education expenditure reached RMB 5.4161 trillion and equaled 4.02% of GDP. General public budget education expenditure was RMB 4.1495 trillion, equal to 14.58% of total general public budget expenditure. [MOE]
National Fiscal Education Expenditure as a Share of GDP
Official national fiscal education expenditure divided by GDP, 2022–2024.
Source: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, and National Bureau of Statistics education expenditure bulletins.
| Year | National Fiscal Education Expenditure as Share of GDP |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 4.01% |
| 2023 | 4.00% |
| 2024 | 4.02% |
This indicator is national fiscal education expenditure as a share of GDP; it is not the same as total education expenditure or the share of the general public budget.
The GDP share stayed in a narrow 0.02-point range across 2022–2024, moving from 4.01% to 4.00% and then 4.02%. The 2024 total education-expenditure figure rose in nominal yuan terms, while the GDP ratio remained close to 4%. The two statements measure different things and should not be treated as the same trend.
Teacher supply is also managed by education stage and geography. The 2025 national bulletin counted 18.70 million full-time teachers across all levels. In 2026, the rural compulsory-education Special Post Program planned recruitment of 8,594 teachers, with posts directed toward central and western regions, border areas, smaller rural schools, boarding schools, and subjects with staffing shortages. [MOE]
Current Education Changes and the 2035 Plan
The 2024–2035 education plan, released in 2025, sets the long-range direction for school quality, vocational education, higher education, teacher development, student support, digital education, and education funding. The plan keeps national fiscal education expenditure above 4% of GDP as a stated funding objective and calls for continued adjustment of education resources as enrolment patterns change. [MOE]
Several changes are already in force. The Preschool Education Law took effect in June 2025, the final preschool year began receiving a national fee waiver from autumn 2025, and the 2026 AI + Education Action Plan calls for AI literacy across school levels and broader AI study in higher education. The Ministry of Education also continued programs for county-level senior high schools and adjusted higher education capacity toward populous and central-western regions. [MOE] [State Council]
The latest national data show why these measures now focus on allocation as much as expansion. Preschool and primary enrolments declined between 2023 and 2025, junior secondary enrolment rose, and higher education continued to grow. The system therefore has to manage different enrolment directions across stages while maintaining compulsory-school completion, teacher supply, upper-secondary capacity, vocational routes, and tertiary access.
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