education

Work It Out: Why More Chinese Students Pick Skills Over Degrees

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

As families across China calculate cost, time, and job prospects, vocational colleges are becoming a deliberate choice rather than a fallback.

Fan Yiying

Chen Xiashiyu

The Shanghai School Opening Hearts and Minds on Autism

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

At Shanghai’s Aihao Center, parents and teachers are equipping autistic children with the skills they need to thrive in society.

The Paper

A New Leaf: China’s First Autumn Break Triggers Travel Boom

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

This fall, multiple provinces have rolled out updated academic calendars to accommodate new holiday policies and local weather conditions, in the hope of encouraging family time and economic consumption.

Li Xin

(Not) Old Enough! Chinese Kids’ Apps Under Fire for Explicit Ads

BabyBus, one of the nation’s largest educational app platforms, has been criticized by parents after their children witnessed violent and erotic ads on several of its apps.

Fast Track: Chinese Cities Pilot Skipping High School Entrance Exam

A pilot program in Chengdu exempts some students from the grueling high school entrance exam, offering families relief from mounting academic pressure.

He Qitong

Hubei Redefines ‘Fresh Graduate’ to Expand Job Access

More Chinese provinces are expanding the definition of “fresh graduate,” aiming to widen eligibility for public sector jobs and other benefits.

China’s Universities Bet on STEM. Arts Grads Bet on Themselves

With humanities programs shrinking and competition at record highs, China’s liberal arts grads are learning to code, mastering data skills, and racing to pivot in an economy increasingly shaped by STEM.

Chen Yongyi

China Tightens Rules on Study Aids to Ease Student Pressure

Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities are curbing extra workbooks as authorities double down on reforms to ease exam stress.

China’s Higher Ed Reform Pivots From Old Majors to New Tech

The new plan calls for integrating AI and the sciences into curricula, building a national data platform, and steering resources to high-demand fields.

After 4-Day Search, Boy With Autism Found Dead in SW China

The boy’s disappearance during a summer camp trip prompted nationwide concern. Authorities are now investigating the company that organized it.

In Specialized Education Push, China Opens Wave of Elite Research Universities

A growing number of specialized research institutions are challenging the country’s traditional top universities with better facilities and more promising career prospects.

China to Start Rolling Out Free Preschool Education

As part of the country’s pro-birth push, public kindergartens nationwide will begin to waive care and education fees as soon as the coming school year.

China’s Private Colleges Ease Entry, Still Struggle for Students

Recent reforms to the national college entrance system and high tuition fees are leaving private schools with thousands of vacant seats.

Class Divide: Raising the Voices of Vocational Students

Often portrayed as “failures” and “dropouts,” students are writing to change the narrative on vocational education in China.

Jiemian News

Gansu Kindergarten Poisoning: 6 Arrests, Probe Finds Cover-Up

Authorities say over 240 children were poisoned by lead-tainted food at Peixin Kindergarten, with school leaders, hospital staff, and regulators all implicated in a widening investigation.

Pet Degree: A Top Chinese School Debuts a Companion Animal Major

With an estimated 100 million-plus pet owners in the country, higher education institutions are beginning to realize the potential in pet-related courses.

‘Too Big a Risk’: Chinese Students Rethink the American Dream

After an abrupt visa freeze and a vague policy reversal, many Chinese students find themselves locked out, or walking away, from what had long been the default path to opportunity.

Chen Yiru

Amid Gaokao, Students Turn to a Reclusive Math Genius for Luck

Wei Dongyi had largely stayed out of the public eye since going viral in 2021. But a surprise appearance on Douyin ahead of China’s college entrance exam last week drew millions of new followers within days.

Time Travel to Super Memory: China’s ‘Brain’ Schools Sell the Surreal

Thousands of companies promising to unlock young children’s brain potential have opened in recent years, drawing in eager parents — and concern from the scientific community.

The Chinese Families Choosing an African Education

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

For some, it’s a path to a more global life for their kids.