EDUCATION LAW OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

(Adopted at the Third Session of the Eighth National People’s Congress on March 18, 1995, promulgated by Order No. 45 of the President of the People’s Republic of China on March 18, 1995, and effective as of September 1, 1995)

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution with a

view to developing the cause of education, enhancing the quality of the

entire nation and promoting the socialist material as well as cultural

and ethical progress.

Article 2 This Law shall be applicable to education of all types and at

all levels offered within the territory of the People’s Republic of

China.

Article 3 In developing the cause of socialist education, the State

adheres to taking Marxism, Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and the theory

of building socialism with Chinese characteristics as its guidelines and

follows the basic principles defined in the Constitution.

Article 4 Education is the basis of the socialist modernization drive,

and the State ensures priority to the development of educational

undertakings.

The entire society should show concern for and give support to the

development of educational undertakings.

The entire society should respect teachers.

Article 5 Education must serve the socialist modernization drive and

must be combined with production and physical labour in order to train

for the socialist cause builders and successors who are developed in an

all-round way-morally, intellectually and physically.

Article 6 The State conducts education among educatees in patriotism,

collectivism, socialism as well as in the importance of ideals, ethics,

discipline, the legal system, national defense and national unity.

Article 7 In education the brilliant historic and cultural tradition of

the Chinese nation shall be inherited and carried forward and all other

excellent achievements of human civilization shall be absorbed.

Article 8 Educational activities shall conform to the State and public

interests.

The State separates education from religion. No organization or

individual may make use of religion to conduct activities that interfere

with the educational system of the State.

Article 9 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 according to law.

Article 10 The State, in light of the characteristics and needs of the

different minority ethnic groups, provides assistance to the development

of educational undertakings in regions inhabited by the minority ethnic

groups.

The State supports and assists the development of educational

undertakings in the outlying and poverty-stricken areas.

The State supports and develops educational undertakings for the

disabled.

Article 11 To meet the needs of developing a socialist market economy

and promoting social progress, the State carries forward educational

reform, fosters a coordinated development of education at various levels

and of various types, and establishes and improves a system of life-long

education.

The State supports, encourages and organizes scientific research in

education, disseminate the results of scientific research in education

so as to enhance the quality of education.

Article 12 The spoken and written Chinese language shall be the basic

spoken and written language in teaching in schools and other

institutions of education. In schools and other institutions of

education in which students of a minority ethnic group constitute the

majority, the spoken and written language used by the specific ethnic

group or commonly used by the local ethnic groups may be used for

instruction.

Putonghua (common speech based on Beijing pronunciation) and the

standar-dized characters designed for use throughout the country shall

be widely used in instruction in schools and other institutions of

education.

Article 13 The State awards units or individuals that have made

outstanding achievements in the development of education.

Article 14 The State Council and the local people’s governments at

various levels shall guide and administer educational work under the

principles of admini-stration by different levels and of a division of

responsibilities.