Key practical points:
• It guarantees every citizen's right to education without discrimination by ethnicity, sex, religion or wealth.
• It defines the system's structure: preschool, compulsory, secondary, higher and continuing education.
• Schools need a licence and are subject to state oversight of curriculum and quality.
• It sets student rights (grants, certificates) and duties, and bans unlawful fees.
• The main language of instruction is standard Chinese (Putonghua), with regard for minority languages.
• It encourages social and private participation in education within rules.
Education Law · Yalla China
中华人民共和国教育法 / Education Law
Enacted: 1995-03-18 ✅ Effective: 1995-09-01
📝 Overview
The basic framework law governing China's education system at all levels and setting the rights and duties of students, teachers and schools. It entrenches citizens' right to education and the principles of its administration and funding. It concerns every family with students and those working in education.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
The Education Law is the general umbrella for all stages of study in China and guarantees your child's right to education without discrimination. If a school imposes strange fees or acts against the rules, that is unlawful. Other laws (compulsory, higher) detail each stage. General orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
Ministry of Education / moe.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026