China’s leading technology companies temporarily disabled core functions of their generative-AI chatbots during this year’s national college entrance examination, or Gaokao, in a coordinated effort to curb cheating.

More than 10 million high-school seniors sat for the high-stakes test from 7 to 10 June, which largely determines university placement. Platforms such as Alibaba’s Qwen, ByteDance’s Doubao, Tencent’s Yuanbao, Moonshot’s Kimi and DeepSeek froze features including image recognition and real-time question answering during exam hours.

Although authorities have repeatedly warned against high-tech cheating, Beijing issued no formal directive; the companies acted pre-emptively to safeguard exam integrity and demonstrate compliance with government expectations. Normal service is expected to resume now that the 2025 Gaokao has concluded.

Schools in China have reportedly isolated students on campus as COVID-19 cases surge across the country. In response to the rising number of infections, educational institutions have implemented strict containment measures to prevent further spread of the virus among students. These actions reflect efforts to manage the outbreak amid increasing case numbers.

On June 1, 2025, China celebrated International Children's Day with a focus on the importance of children to the nation's development. President Xi Jinping visited Beijing Yuying School to meet with students and teachers, extending his warm wishes to children across the country. Xi has repeatedly expressed his care and expectations for young people, emphasizing that children are the future of the nation and the hope of the Chinese people. Various activities were held nationwide, including gift-giving to children in welfare institutions and cultural events such as performances by children's choirs.

The day also marked the enforcement of China's first Preschool Education Law, reflecting the country's commitment to creating a supportive environment for children's growth and development. International leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighted the significance of improving child welfare and family values as national priorities. The celebrations underscored the collective responsibility to ensure children grow up in safe, nurturing environments where they can realize their potential and contribute to national progress.

By the end of 2024, the Chinese Young Pioneers (CYP), a national mass organization for children, had approximately 113 million members nationwide, according to the Communist Youth League of China Central Committee. Currently, there are over 570,000 children with special needs in China, most of whom attend regular schools. In Hebei province's Shijiazhuang city, students at Lingshou County No. 2 Junior High School report intense academic schedules, starting their day at 5:40 a.m., beginning study sessions at 6 a.m., and returning to dormitories around 9:50 p.m.

Classes have been extended to 70-100 minutes with only five-minute breaks, vacations reduced to biweekly intervals, and nightly exams in two subjects. These practices reportedly contradict the Ministry of Education's guidelines aimed at regulating and improving educational management. Meanwhile, efforts to promote physical health among children are underway, as nearly 19% of Chinese children aged 6 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese. Schools and families are collaborating to increase physical activity among the younger generation.

China's Ministry of Education announced that 13.35 million students are registered to take the 2025 national college entrance exam, known as the gaokao, which begins on June 7. This figure represents a decrease of 70,000 from the previous year's record high of 13.42 million, marking the first decline in gaokao participation since 2017. The drop is attributed to declining birth rates and shifts in the job market. Additionally, the number of applicants for the national master's degree entrance exam has fallen to 3.88 million in 2025, down from 4.38 million in 2024 and 4.74 million in 2023, indicating a two-year consecutive decrease. Ahead of the exam, some schools have organized activities such as games and special meals, including a notable 200-pound lobster feast in Xi'an, to help students relieve stress and boost confidence.

China's Ministry of Education has introduced 29 new undergraduate majors to its higher education catalog, reflecting a strategic shift to align academic programs with national priorities and market demands. These new majors include fields such as artificial intelligence, carbon neutrality science and engineering, and international cruise management. The initiative aims to support China's goals for technological self-reliance, industrial upgrading, and high-quality development. The expanded curriculum features interdisciplinary programs spanning engineering, health, agriculture, and liberal arts.

Experts highlight that these additions will help cultivate specialized talent critical for key sectors, enhancing China's competitiveness and influence globally. This move is part of a broader effort to rapidly respond to evolving national strategies and to mitigate impacts from international trade tensions. Private sector leaders and government officials have expressed confidence in the role of innovation-driven education to foster scientific and industrial advancements.

China's Ministry of Education has unveiled a comprehensive plan to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the country's education system, starting from the age of six. The initiative aims to incorporate AI applications throughout the entire educational process, including teaching methods, textbooks, and school curricula, as part of a broader education reform. This move is intended to accelerate educational modernization and better prepare students for future technological advancements. The government has also hosted forums focused on the responsible integration of AI technology in schools.

Meanwhile, other regions such as Guernsey and South Korea are also exploring AI-assisted education, with Guernsey schools adopting custom AI tutors to enhance learning while balancing foundational skills. South Korea is testing AI-assisted teaching at the primary and secondary levels. In addition to education, China is promoting AI applications in the service industry as part of its broader technological development strategy.

Beijing is implementing a new educational initiative that mandates artificial intelligence (AI) training for elementary school students. This program aims to introduce AI concepts, including the use of chatbots and AI ethics, to children as young as six years old. Each student will receive at least eight hours of AI education annually, a move seen as part of China's broader strategy to enhance technological skills among its youth. The initiative is positioned as a response to a growing demand for AI talent, with estimates indicating a shortage of 5.2 million AI professionals in China by 2024. The education ministry has also urged universities to incorporate vocational AI courses to better prepare students for future job markets.

China’s leading technology companies temporarily disabled core functions of their generative-AI chatbots during this year’s national college entrance examination, or Gaokao, in a coordinated effort to curb cheating.

More than 10 million high-school seniors sat for the high-stakes test from 7 to 10 June, which largely determines university placement. Platforms such as Alibaba’s Qwen, ByteDance’s Doubao, Tencent’s Yuanbao, Moonshot’s Kimi and DeepSeek froze features including image recognition and real-time question answering during exam hours.

Although authorities have repeatedly warned against high-tech cheating, Beijing issued no formal directive; the companies acted pre-emptively to safeguard exam integrity and demonstrate compliance with government expectations. Normal service is expected to resume now that the 2025 Gaokao has concluded.

Schools in China have reportedly isolated students on campus as COVID-19 cases surge across the country. In response to the rising number of infections, educational institutions have implemented strict containment measures to prevent further spread of the virus among students. These actions reflect efforts to manage the outbreak amid increasing case numbers.

On June 1, 2025, China celebrated International Children's Day with a focus on the importance of children to the nation's development. President Xi Jinping visited Beijing Yuying School to meet with students and teachers, extending his warm wishes to children across the country. Xi has repeatedly expressed his care and expectations for young people, emphasizing that children are the future of the nation and the hope of the Chinese people. Various activities were held nationwide, including gift-giving to children in welfare institutions and cultural events such as performances by children's choirs.

The day also marked the enforcement of China's first Preschool Education Law, reflecting the country's commitment to creating a supportive environment for children's growth and development. International leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighted the significance of improving child welfare and family values as national priorities. The celebrations underscored the collective responsibility to ensure children grow up in safe, nurturing environments where they can realize their potential and contribute to national progress.

By the end of 2024, the Chinese Young Pioneers (CYP), a national mass organization for children, had approximately 113 million members nationwide, according to the Communist Youth League of China Central Committee. Currently, there are over 570,000 children with special needs in China, most of whom attend regular schools. In Hebei province's Shijiazhuang city, students at Lingshou County No. 2 Junior High School report intense academic schedules, starting their day at 5:40 a.m., beginning study sessions at 6 a.m., and returning to dormitories around 9:50 p.m.

Classes have been extended to 70-100 minutes with only five-minute breaks, vacations reduced to biweekly intervals, and nightly exams in two subjects. These practices reportedly contradict the Ministry of Education's guidelines aimed at regulating and improving educational management. Meanwhile, efforts to promote physical health among children are underway, as nearly 19% of Chinese children aged 6 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese. Schools and families are collaborating to increase physical activity among the younger generation.

China's Ministry of Education announced that 13.35 million students are registered to take the 2025 national college entrance exam, known as the gaokao, which begins on June 7. This figure represents a decrease of 70,000 from the previous year's record high of 13.42 million, marking the first decline in gaokao participation since 2017. The drop is attributed to declining birth rates and shifts in the job market. Additionally, the number of applicants for the national master's degree entrance exam has fallen to 3.88 million in 2025, down from 4.38 million in 2024 and 4.74 million in 2023, indicating a two-year consecutive decrease. Ahead of the exam, some schools have organized activities such as games and special meals, including a notable 200-pound lobster feast in Xi'an, to help students relieve stress and boost confidence.

China's Ministry of Education has introduced 29 new undergraduate majors to its higher education catalog, reflecting a strategic shift to align academic programs with national priorities and market demands. These new majors include fields such as artificial intelligence, carbon neutrality science and engineering, and international cruise management. The initiative aims to support China's goals for technological self-reliance, industrial upgrading, and high-quality development. The expanded curriculum features interdisciplinary programs spanning engineering, health, agriculture, and liberal arts.

Experts highlight that these additions will help cultivate specialized talent critical for key sectors, enhancing China's competitiveness and influence globally. This move is part of a broader effort to rapidly respond to evolving national strategies and to mitigate impacts from international trade tensions. Private sector leaders and government officials have expressed confidence in the role of innovation-driven education to foster scientific and industrial advancements.

China's Ministry of Education has unveiled a comprehensive plan to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the country's education system, starting from the age of six. The initiative aims to incorporate AI applications throughout the entire educational process, including teaching methods, textbooks, and school curricula, as part of a broader education reform. This move is intended to accelerate educational modernization and better prepare students for future technological advancements. The government has also hosted forums focused on the responsible integration of AI technology in schools.

Meanwhile, other regions such as Guernsey and South Korea are also exploring AI-assisted education, with Guernsey schools adopting custom AI tutors to enhance learning while balancing foundational skills. South Korea is testing AI-assisted teaching at the primary and secondary levels. In addition to education, China is promoting AI applications in the service industry as part of its broader technological development strategy.

Beijing is implementing a new educational initiative that mandates artificial intelligence (AI) training for elementary school students. This program aims to introduce AI concepts, including the use of chatbots and AI ethics, to children as young as six years old. Each student will receive at least eight hours of AI education annually, a move seen as part of China's broader strategy to enhance technological skills among its youth. The initiative is positioned as a response to a growing demand for AI talent, with estimates indicating a shortage of 5.2 million AI professionals in China by 2024. The education ministry has also urged universities to incorporate vocational AI courses to better prepare students for future job markets.