English Education Becomes Less Prominent in China
The role of English education in China is changing after decades in which it was seen as an important means of connecting with the global economy and academic community. During the reform and opening-up process that began in 1978, English was regarded as a key tool for building international connections, improving social mobility and supporting economic advancement. In recent years, education priorities have increasingly shifted towards local culture and technological self-reliance.
English has long been a core subject alongside Chinese and mathematics in the Gaokao, China’s university entrance examination. Changes in education policy, however, have reduced the time allocated to English lessons and prompted debate over the place of foreign language education in the system.
According to the compulsory education curriculum published by China’s Ministry of Education in 2022, English accounts for approximately 6–8% of total teaching hours in primary and lower secondary schools. This is less than the time allocated to physical education, mathematics and Chinese.
A similar shift is evident in higher education. Some universities have reportedly removed the College English Test, which assesses English proficiency, as a graduation requirement. These developments have been linked to efforts to reshape higher education in line with labour market needs and the country’s technological priorities.