China's education sector is undergoing reform as part of the nation's commitment to fostering a more innovative and equitable learning environment. At a national education conference on September 9-10, President Xi Jinping outlined efforts needed to build China into an educational powerhouse by 2035. These changes aim to address longstanding issues such as a weak innovation capacity and regional disparities.

One of the most notable aspects of the reform is its emphasis on combining the development of education with scientific and technological innovation and the cultivation of a highly qualified workforce. This calls for a more integrated approach, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving skills and creativity. The effort is expected to produce individuals better equipped to meet the demand of China's ongoing economic restructuring toward innovation-driven growth.

Additionally, the reform aims to address the disparities in educational resources and opportunities. Urban areas, particularly major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, have traditionally enjoyed better facilities and teaching staff than rural areas. Continuing to narrow the gaps between regions and schools remains a top priority. Notably, there has long been society-wide consensus that quality compulsory education, a public service provided by the government free of charge, should be made accessible to all.

Since the central authorities introduced a policy to ease the pressure of homework and extracurricular tutoring on first to ninth graders in 2021, schools and parents have been encouraged to focus on students' all-round development instead of solely on academic excellence. While off-campus training institutions are subject to tight regulation, classroom teaching has become more efficient with the introduction of new methods, coupled with the use of digital technology; and schools now also offer a wider range of extracurricular activities.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, education has made great strides. The rise in the average years of schooling for the labor force, the increase in the number of college and vocational school graduates, and steadily growing government spending on education are all examples of the long way it has come. Hopes are high that the current reform, building upon this monumental progress, will usher in a healthier, more enabling educational climate that will allow every student to make the most of his or her abilities.