Seven departments including the Ministry of Education: Strengthening science and technology education in primary and secondary schools
The Zhitong Finance App learned that recently, seven departments including the Ministry of Education jointly issued “Opinions on Strengthening Science and Technology Education in Primary and Secondary Schools”. The opinions require that by 2030, the primary and secondary school science and technology education system will be basically established, the curriculum system will be further improved, teaching reform will continue to be deepened, evaluation and condition guarantee systems will be basically established, and the teaching force building will be further strengthened. By 2035, the science and technology education ecosystem will be fully built, and social resource support mechanisms will continue to be improved. Project-based, exploratory, and interdisciplinary teaching methods targeting practical scenarios will be widely applied. Students' ability to comprehensively apply knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, etc., and their ability to practice and solve problems will improve markedly, better meet the wishes of the masses to receive fair and high-quality education, and better support the construction of a strong educational nation.
The original text is as follows:
Opinions of seven departments including the Ministry of Education on strengthening science and technology education in primary and secondary schools
Kyogi [2025] No. 7
Strengthening science and technology education in primary and secondary schools is an important path to serve the country's innovation-driven development strategy and cultivate future scientific and technological innovation talents. In order to thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress and the 20th Plenary Session of the Party, fully implement the spirit of the National Education Conference and the deployment requirements of the “Outline Plan for Building a Strong Education Country (2024-2035)”, focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, effectively strengthen science and technology education in primary and secondary schools, consolidate the foundation for cultivating scientific and technological innovation talents, help people stand on their own feet and improve at a high level of science and technology, and support the high-quality integrated development of education, science and technology, and talents, the following opinions are put forward.
I. General Requirements
Guided by Xi Jinping's ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, it focuses on the fundamental task of establishing morality, adhering to overall planning and piloting, adhering to integrity and innovation, following the rules, adhering to comprehensive development, integration of disciplines, integration of learning and use, integration of knowledge and action, adhering to local conditions and classification, comprehensively strengthening science and technology education in primary and secondary schools, and promoting changes in the way people are educated.
By 2030, the science and technology education system for primary and secondary schools will be basically established, the curriculum system will be further improved, teaching reform will continue to be deepened, evaluation and condition guarantee systems will be basically established, and the teaching force will be further strengthened. By 2035, the science and technology education ecosystem will be fully built, and social resource support mechanisms will continue to be improved. Project-based, exploratory, and interdisciplinary teaching methods targeting practical scenarios will be widely applied. Students' ability to comprehensively apply knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, etc., and their ability to practice and solve problems will improve markedly, better meet the wishes of the masses to receive fair and high-quality education, and better support the construction of a strong educational nation.
II. Establishing a collaborative education system
1. Cultivate interest in science. The lower grades of elementary school focus on perceptual experience and interest development. Through lifestyle and gamified scenario design, students' curiosity and desire to explore are stimulated. The middle and upper grades of elementary school focus on conceptual understanding and hands-on research. On the basis of protecting students' curiosity, they initially establish interdisciplinary connections through practical activities such as scientific experiments and project tasks, and strengthen the interest-based “do middle school” practice path. The middle school stage focuses on practical exploration and application of technology, and conducts interdisciplinary project-based learning around “solving real problems” to guide students to gradually shift from awareness of phenomena to exploration of rules and method acquisition. The high school level focuses on experimental research and engineering practice, guides students to understand cutting-edge developments in science and technology, encourages experimental research and small-scale engineering practice projects based on real situations, and helps students to systematically master the basic processes and core methods of scientific research.
2. Cultivate scientific spirit. Guide schools to incorporate the collaborative development of science and technology education and humanities education into the overall plan, strengthen interdisciplinary integration, promote students to cultivate humanistic feelings in the process of exploring the laws of science, and cultivate rational thinking and innovative spirit in cultural infiltration. Integrate cultural elements into science and technology education, guide students to actively think about the profound impact of scientific and technological development on society, the environment and ethics in activities such as scientific experiments and project research, and enhance their sense of social responsibility and cultural heritage. It infiltrates scientific thinking and scientific spirit in humanities education. Through content such as the history of science and technology and the deeds of scientists, students are helped to understand the driving effect of scientific and technological progress on human civilization, cultivate critical thinking and a sense of innovation, and enhance the scientific rationality contained in humanistic literacy. Actively create a campus culture that advocates science and respects humanities, build a good ecosystem that organically unifies science and culture and educates people collaboratively, and comprehensively enhance students' core qualities.
III. Building an open and integrated curriculum ecology and teaching methods
3. Innovate the curriculum ecosystem. It is mainly based on compulsory education and general high school curriculum standards, based on subject integration, based on solving problems in real situations, strengthening the transformation of cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements into curriculum teaching resources, developing high-quality science and technology education curriculum resources, and developing and providing supporting teaching materials. Fully implement national curricula, effectively apply local courses, design school-based courses in a systematic manner, and create a new “trinity” curriculum ecosystem. Curriculum resources closely focus on cutting-edge and emerging fields of science and technology such as physical science, life science, earth and space science, artificial intelligence and quantum information. They vertically cut through all sections of basic education, establish a “basic cognition - comprehensive application - innovation breakthrough” training path, coordinate science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other subject resources horizontally, effectively meet the needs of higher education, promote integrated design in universities, schools, and focus on cultivating students' interdisciplinary literacy, scientific and technological innovation ability, engineering practice ability, and scientific thinking.
4. Change the way we teach. Guide schools to systematically design science and technology education implementation plans based on their own characteristics and the learning situations and cognitive characteristics of students in different school segments, and coordinate in-school, in-class, online and offline. We always adhere to the student-centered approach, focus on organic integration between subdisciplinary teaching and interdisciplinary teaching, focus on the ability to solve real-world science and technology engineering problems, use project learning, problem research, and task-driven methods to guide students to actively learn, exchange discussions, hands-on experiments, and practical research, and comprehensively apply multidisciplinary knowledge and skills to solve problems. Encourage exploration of “double teacher classrooms” taught by “scientists and teachers” and “future classrooms” based on cutting-edge technologies such as metaverse virtual laboratories. Coordinate teaching implementation and homework management, scientifically design exploratory and practical assignments, and explore comprehensive interdisciplinary work.
4. Strengthen literacy-oriented teaching and research leadership and comprehensive evaluation
5. Highlight teaching and research leadership. Regions and schools that are in a position to do so are encouraged to set up special teaching and research teams for science and technology education to carry out research on the construction of curriculum resources, preparation of teaching guidelines, innovation in teaching methods, and interdisciplinary connections between school segments. Strengthen key teachers to lead school-based teaching and research and inter-school collaborative teaching and research, work with university teachers and researchers from teaching and research institutions, establish regional teaching and research communities based on the science and technology education cloud teaching and research platform, use digital means to normalize teaching and discussion activities, and promote the integrated development of teaching, research and teaching. Schools everywhere are encouraged to provide platforms and financial support for teachers to participate deeply in science and technology education teaching and research.
6. Promote evaluation reform. Diversified and developmental evaluation methods such as process evaluation and outcome evaluation are comprehensively used, and students' learning processes must not be simply evaluated unilaterally by means of examinations, etc., to prevent utilitarian tendencies and increase the burden on teachers and students. Develop a “digital portrait of scientific and technological literacy” to track the growth trajectory of students' ability to innovate, focusing on students' learning behaviors such as observation, recording, analysis and expression, as well as the values, learning attitudes, knowledge structure, cognitive process, sense of reflection, innovative thinking, and iterative ability in activities such as cooperative learning, scientific research, engineering design, and hands-on practice. Gradually optimize the comprehensive quality evaluation system for students, and make scientific and technological literacy an important part of students' comprehensive quality evaluation. Establish and improve science and technology education evaluation mechanisms covering teachers, schools and territorial education administration departments. For teachers, the focus is on evaluating the effectiveness of teaching implementation and educating people in stimulating innovative thinking, guiding project learning, and integrating interdisciplinary knowledge; for schools, the effectiveness of integrating curriculum teaching resources, creating a practical environment, and cultivating students' scientific and technological literacy; for territorial education administration departments, the focus is on evaluating the implementation effects of regional science and technology education planning, policy support, teacher team building, and regional collaborative education mechanisms.
5. Focus on diversified resource development and environmental construction
7. Build a teaching space. Strengthen the construction and renovation of teaching facilities such as science and technology laboratories to provide students with one-stop learning services. Coordinate the use of resources such as off-campus laboratories, science and technology infrastructure, venues, workshops, training bases, etc., to build a learning space for science and technology exploration and experience to provide a platform for students to experience science and technology exploration experiments and engineering technology practices in real situations. In conjunction with the construction of child-friendly cities, promote the construction and transformation of practical research bases with multiple functions such as popularization of science and experience in regions where conditions are available. To build experimental science and technology education zones and experimental schools in batches, we are committed to exploring and constructing effective implementation paths and innovative training models.
8. Promote digital empowerment. Relying on the national smart education platform for primary and secondary schools, build science and technology education programs, and promote the co-construction and sharing of high-quality digital resources. Build a science and technology education learning community, provide a platform for students to exchange, learn and share experiences, and expand the coverage and benefits of teachers and students. Innovate digital teaching models, build online, hybrid and other digital environments, explore new forms of teaching supported by artificial intelligence, give full play to the functions of AI student aid teaching assistants, management, assessment and research assistance, and enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of science and technology education. Institutions such as universities, research institutes, science and technology museums, youth palaces, children's activity centers, science and technology enterprises are encouraged to strengthen in-depth cooperation with primary and secondary schools, build digital virtual venues and intelligent learning courses, and provide students with digital learning scenarios such as virtual scientific experiments and engineering practices.
6. Promote high-quality and efficient teacher development and home-school-community collaboration
9. Build a strong teaching staff. Fully integrate science and technology education into the teacher training and training system, carry out master's degree training in science and technology education in “double first-class” construction colleges and universities, and target complex education talents with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. Strengthen the training of science and technology education teachers, and give preference to science and technology education teachers in the national training program for primary and secondary school kindergarten teachers (hereinafter referred to as the “National Training Program”) and summer teacher training, and implement highly targeted training programs to enhance teachers' professional ability and comprehensive quality in the field of interdisciplinary teaching. Implement an “academic+industry” dual mentoring system, and select teachers to work in scientific research institutes and high-tech enterprises. Support institutions such as universities and research institutes to arrange for experts to work as part-time teachers in primary and secondary schools to participate in school science and technology education curriculum development and teaching guidance. Improve the professional development mechanism for science and technology education teachers to promote teachers' professional growth. Use teachers in science, information technology, mathematics, etc. as a basis to fully explore potential and expand, and encourage more teachers to participate in science and technology education research and practice.
10. Promote collaborative education. Relying on a “teaching consortium” where families and schools collaborate to educate people, we support local education departments to actively build regional science and technology education cooperation networks in collaboration with universities, research institutes, science and technology museums, youth palaces, children's activity centers, science and technology enterprises, family communities, etc. Promote and support universities, research institutes, teaching and research institutions to join hands with primary and secondary schools to jointly build regional science and technology education centers. Guide science and technology enterprises and public welfare organizations to participate in the development, practical guidance, and resource supply of school science and technology projects, and encourage them to claim science and technology education projects in schools through the “unveiling the list” method. Build the “100 Cities and 1000 Museums” project to promote the normalization of the opening of science and technology museums and key laboratories to primary and secondary schools. Implement the “Little Engineer” program for science and technology education in primary and secondary schools, and organize and carry out “pilot actions” to explore and practice in primary and secondary schools. Implement the Family Technology Education Empowerment Program, develop a “Family Technology Toolbox”, and encourage parents and children to join hands in a variety of science and technology parent-child activities. The National Science and Technology Plan will increase research support in related fields. Encourage relevant foundations and social organizations to set up public welfare projects to increase support for science and technology education in vulnerable regions, weak schools, and special groups of children. Strengthen supervision of training institutions outside of school, and strictly prohibit illegal subject-type training in the name of science and technology education.
7. Promoting extensive and in-depth international exchanges and cooperation
11. Enhance international influence. Establish a multilateral cooperation network, launch the “Belt and Road” science and technology education community initiative, sign education cooperation agreements with relevant countries, and deepen education cooperation and exchanges. Relying on existing platforms such as friendly international provinces and states, friendly cities, and friendly schools, we promote the establishment of international science and technology education city alliances and school alliances. The “Global Youth Science and Technology Innovation Expo” was founded and the “Blue Book on the Development of Global Science and Technology Education” was released to share China's experience in science and technology education and lead educational innovation.
12. Enhance international competitiveness. Actively support and participate in UNESCO and other relevant international organizations, rely on China's science and technology education innovation, collaborative research and international cooperation base, cooperate to carry out forward-looking and innovative research, establish a global knowledge base for science and technology education, and promote science and technology education research and practice in primary and secondary schools on a global scale. Support the construction of an “Artificial Intelligence+Technology Education” interdisciplinary course group and a high-quality curriculum package for multilingual science and technology education. Develop a “science and technology education cloud classroom” system based on smart education, provide technical assistance to developing countries, and promote the balanced development of global science and technology education. Promote the display and exchange of international youth science and innovation achievements, implement dual mentoring programs, hire international experts such as Nobel Prize winners and other international experts to guide them online, and cultivate students' global awareness and ability to innovate. Implement the “Overseas Study Program for Science and Technology Education Teachers”, select primary and secondary school teachers to visit famous overseas schools, and enhance teachers' international vision and professionalism.
8. Strengthen organizational guarantees and implementation
13. All regions should take science and technology education in primary and secondary schools as an important gripper to promote the construction of a strong educational nation, carry out comprehensive system deployment, and earnestly implement various measures. It is necessary to establish and improve a working mechanism with unified leadership and cooperation among relevant departments of the local party committee and government, clarify the division of responsibilities, and strengthen the overall planning and effective implementation of science and technology education. It is necessary to ensure funding and focus on supporting science and technology education curriculum development, resource construction, teacher training, subject research, and activity development. Coordinate the allocation of funds and project resources from all parties, and actively expand social support channels. Support eligible Midwest, rural areas, frontier regions, ethnic minority regions, and key counties for national rural revitalization to improve the conditions for running schools and do a good job in space construction. It is necessary to build a dynamic monitoring system for science and technology education based on artificial intelligence and big data technology, and carefully carry out dynamic monitoring. It is necessary to create a positive atmosphere, encourage the central government and local media to step up publicity efforts, gather the strong synergy of schools, families, and society to collaborate in educating people, guide primary and secondary schools and parents of students to establish scientific and reasonable educational concepts, and jointly create a good culture of widespread attention, active support and participation in science and technology education by the whole society.
Ministry of Education National Development and Reform Commission Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Finance Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Association for Science and Technology
October 23, 2025
This article was selected from the “Ministry of Education Official Website”; Zhitong Finance Editor: Xu Wenqiang.