探索延长义务教育年限：向下还是向上？

Core Viewpoint - The recent issuance of the "Suggestions" by the Central Committee emphasizes the exploration of extending compulsory education years and expanding the scope of free education, reflecting a significant shift in educational policy in China [1][4]. Group 1: Education Policy Changes - The "Suggestions" propose to steadily expand the range of free education and explore extending the years of compulsory education, which has garnered significant social attention [1]. - The current compulsory education law, established in 1986, mandates nine years of education, while many developed countries have extended this duration [1][2]. - By 2035, the goal is to build a strong education system, with compulsory education being crucial for enhancing national quality [1][4]. Group 2: International Trends - Statistics from UNESCO show that the number of countries with compulsory education longer than nine years has increased from 62 (46.3%) in 2010 to 109 (55.6%) in 2018 [2][3]. - Finland serves as a model, having raised the end age of compulsory education from 16 to 18, thereby including high school education [4][11]. Group 3: Financial Support and Implementation - A significant change in financial support for free education is underway, with the central government covering a larger share of costs, ensuring sustainability across the nation [6][7]. - Starting in the 2025 fall semester, the policy for free pre-school education will cover all kindergartens, benefiting approximately 12 million children [6]. Group 4: Quality and Equity in Education - The focus is shifting from merely having access to education ("having school") to ensuring quality education ("good school") [8]. - The "Suggestions" highlight the need for balanced development across different educational stages, including early childhood and high school education [8][9]. Group 5: Diverse Educational Development - Even if high school education is included in compulsory education, it should maintain a diverse and distinctive development approach rather than solely serving as a pathway to university [10][11]. - Various regions are actively promoting the development of comprehensive and specialized high schools to enhance educational quality and diversity [11].