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 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 Constitutions.

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 an d give support to the development of educational undertakings.

The entire society should respect teachers.

Articles 5 Education must serve the socialist modernization drive and must be combined with production and physical labor in order to train for the socialist cause builders and successors who are developed in an all-around way-morally, intellectually and physically.

Article 6 The State conducts education among educates 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 of 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 standardized 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 administration by different levels and of a division of responsibilities.

Secondary education and education at lower levels shall be administered by the local people’s governments under the guidance of the State Council.

Higher education shall be administered by the State Council, and/or the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Article 15 The administrative department of education under the State Council shall be in charge of the nationwide educational work, and undertake overall planning, coordination and management of the educational undertakings throughout the country.
The administrative department of education under the people’s governments at or above the county level shall be in charge of the educational work in their respective administrative regions.

Other departments concerned under the people’s governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the related educational work within the scope of their functions and duties.

Article 16 The State Council and the local people’s governments at or above the county level shall report to the people’s congress at the corresponding levels or their standing committees on the work of education and on the budgets and final accounts of the operating expenses for education, which shall be subject to supervision.