In a landmark move to reform basic education, China’s Ministry of Education has introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework comprising twenty explicit prohibitions targeting long-standing malpractices in kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools. The sweeping guidelines, released Friday, establish clear boundaries across academic, ethical, and operational dimensions of school management.
The regulations specifically ban educators from exploiting digital platforms—including livestream tipping services and knowledge-payment applications—to covertly solicit funds from parents through anxiety-driven marketing tactics. This addresses growing concerns about informal monetization practices within educational settings.
Politically, the directives prohibit any form of speech or materials that oppose the Party or socialism, distort historical narratives, advocate secessionism, or defame national leaders and heroes. Such content is barred across all mediums including textbooks, examinations, digital devices, and public lectures.
Academically, the ministry has outlawed several practices contributing to excessive student workloads. Schools are now forbidden from advancing beyond the national curriculum, reducing hours for moral education, physical education, or arts classes, and assigning homework that exceeds prescribed duration or contains punitive repetitions. The guidelines also protect student well-being by mandating respect for sleep schedules and recess periods, prohibiting the confinement of students during breaks.
Additionally, the regulations ban weekend or holiday organized instruction outside the unified academic calendar, discriminatory treatment of students, and all forms of corporal punishment or verbal abuse. Enrollment practices are also reformed, prohibiting entrance examinations and the use of competition certificates as admission criteria.
The ministry advocates leveraging technological solutions—including big data and artificial intelligence—to enhance oversight while reducing administrative burdens. Local education authorities are instructed to ensure nationwide dissemination and implementation of these standards across all institutions.