Education Law of the People’s Republic of China was promulgated in 1994, and amended in 2009, 2015 and 2021 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on 30 Apr. 2021.

There are 86 articles in total. The Law aims to develop the cause of education, improve the national quality, and promote the construction of socialist material and spiritual civilization.

The key points are as follows:

1.Citizens of the People’s Republic of China shall have the right and obligation to receive education. All citizens, regardless of ethnic group, race, sex, occupation, property status or religious belief, shall enjoy equal opportunities for education in accordance with the law. The State, in light of the characteristics and needs of the different minority ethnic groups, shall help the development of educational undertakings in regions inhabited by the minority ethnic groups. The State shall support and assist the educational undertakings for outlying and poverty-stricken areas and for the disabled.

2.The State applies a system of nine-year compulsory education. People’s governments at all levels shall take various measures to guarantee school-age children and adolescents access to education. Parents or other guardians of school-age children and adolescents as well as social organizations and individuals concerned shall have the obligation to ensure that school-age children and adolescents receive and complete compulsory education for the prescribed number of years.

3.Individuals outside the territory of China, who satisfy the requirements of the State and have completed the relevant formalities, may enter China to study, do research, engage in academic exchange, or teach in schools or other educational institutions. The State shall protect their lawful rights and interests.

4.Whoever steals or falsely uses another person’s identity to obtain the admission qualification will be ordered by the education administrative authority or other relevant administrative authorities to revoke the admission qualification and stop taking the relevant national education examinations for not less than two years but not more than five years; if he or she has obtained a degree certificate, academic certificate or other educational certificates, the issuing authority shall revoke such certificate; if he or she has become a public official, he or she shall be dismissed in accordance with the law; if he or she violates the public security administration, he or she shall be imposed penalties for public security administration by the public security organ in accordance with the law; and if his or her act constitutes a crime, he or she shall be held criminally liable in accordance with the law. Where a person’s right is infringed upon on the grounds that his or her admission qualification is falsely obtained by another person, he or she 4.may request to reinstate the admission qualification.