Summary of Key Points
This news article focuses on the deployment of secondary education within the "15th Five-Year Plan for Educational Development" issued by the State Council, with a primary emphasis on expanding the supply of general high school resources, revitalizing county-level high schools, promoting integration between general and vocational education, and exploring diverse pathways for further education. The goal is to alleviate parents' concerns regarding the division between general and vocational education as well as the high school entrance examination (zhongkao), thereby providing more students with access to quality high school education. Data shows that the number of students enrolled in general high schools and the proportion of junior high school graduates attending these schools have been continuously increasing, reaching 62.36% by 2025. Additionally, various regions are piloting new models such as direct admission to high schools without the zhongkao and a twelve-year integrated education program, which further broaden students' educational opportunities.
1. Increasing Number of High School Seats, Greater Opportunities for Enrollment
In recent years, the number of students enrolled in general high schools and the availability of school places have been on the rise. For the first time, the number of enrollments exceeded 10 million in 2024, an increase of 684,000 compared to 2023, and this figure further rose to 10.749 million in 2025, with the proportion of junior high school graduates attending general high schools climbing from 61% to 62.36%.
The plan also outlines the establishment of more than 1,000 high-quality general high schools, with a focus on improving conditions in county-level high schools and establishing comprehensive and science-oriented high schools. Professor Ding Changfa from Xiamen University notes that this is due to increased investment at all levels, which not only expands the number of high school places but also allows many vocational schools to offer general high school courses, thus increasing the number of students who can attend general high schools and reducing parents' concerns about their children having to attend vocational schools if they fail to get into a general high school.
2. County-Level High Schools as a Priority
County-level general high schools account for nearly 60% of all high school students in China, making them a critical component of basic education in rural areas. In September 2025, six departments, including the Ministry of Education, issued a "Action Plan for Revitalizing County-Level General High Schools," which includes the following measures:
- Expanding existing county-level high schools by adding classes and expanding campuses;
- Recruiting additional teachers for subjects with staffing shortages, such as mathematics and English;
- Encouraging outstanding urban teachers to teach in county-level high schools.
The importance of county-level high schools lies in their role in providing educational opportunities for rural students. Improving these schools not only ensures that rural children can receive quality education nearby but also enhances the overall quality of compulsory education (primary and junior high school) in those areas, contributing to rural revitalization.
3. Flexibility between General and Vocational Education
The previous concern that choosing a vocational school after junior high school would preclude further education at a general high school has been alleviated through ongoing reforms promoting integration between the two systems:
- In some regions, students can transfer from vocational schools to general high schools in their second year of high school if they wish;
- Barriers to transferring between the two systems have been lowered, allowing for greater flexibility;
- Vocational schools now offer comprehensive programs that allow students to study both vocational and general high school courses, with options for university entrance exams or employment upon graduation.
In other words, students are given more opportunities to change their paths based on their later decisions without being confined by a single choice made early in their education.
4. Pilots of Exempting Students from the Zhongkao
To reduce the pressure of the zhongkao, several regions have begun experimenting with models that allow students to enter high schools without taking this exam:
- Shengsi County, Zhoushan: Starting in 2025, the requirement for passing the zhongkao was abolished, and all eligible junior high school graduates from local residents and migrant families were admitted to high schools. In 2025, 266 students who wished to attend a general high school were accepted, resulting in a county-level high school enrollment rate of 81%;
- Loudi, Hunan: A twelve-year integrated education program was piloted in 2026, allowing students entering pilot schools in the first grade of elementary school to directly progress to high school without taking the zhongkao;
- Chengdu: A twelve-year integrated program for primary, junior high, and high school education was launched in 2025, aiming to improve the coordination of curricula, teaching staff, and resources by starting to develop skills needed for high school from an early age.
The core objective of these pilots is to reduce the anxiety associated with a single exam determining one's educational outcome and to make education more aligned with students' developmental needs.
Conclusion
Overall, the "15th Five-Year Plan" and the various measures implemented by local authorities aim to make high school education more inclusive. Whether students wish to attend general or vocational schools, or whether they come from rural or urban areas, they have more choices and better access to resources. Parents no longer need to worry excessively about the division between general and vocational education or the zhongkao, and students can plan their futures with greater peace of mind.