专访周洪宇：探索延长义务教育年限，助力跨越“中等收入陷阱”

Core Viewpoint - The "15th Five-Year Plan" emphasizes the construction of a strong education system, focusing on major strategic tasks and policies in the education sector, including the expansion of free education and the exploration of extending compulsory education years [1][11]. Group 1: Education Reform and Development - The plan aims to implement significant educational reforms, including the initiation of a new round of "Double First-Class" construction and the steady expansion of free education [1]. - The integration of education, technology, and talent development is crucial for fostering new productive forces, requiring a unified approach among academic, educational, and market orientations [4][5]. - The expansion of high-quality undergraduate education is prioritized, with plans to increase the number of "Double First-Class" universities from 147 to around 200, focusing on emerging disciplines [5][6]. Group 2: Basic Education and Resource Allocation - The school-age population in China is projected to decline from 233.33 million in 2023 to 140.04 million by 2035, a decrease of 39.98%, necessitating flexible adjustments in educational resource allocation [8][9]. - A three-tiered response mechanism is proposed to monitor and adapt educational resources in line with population changes, ensuring effective resource distribution [9]. - In urban areas with increasing school-age populations, there is a need to enhance educational resource quality and availability, while rural areas should focus on small-scale standardized schools [9][10]. Group 3: Free Education Expansion - The plan suggests gradually expanding free education to include early childhood and high school education, with a focus on supporting economically disadvantaged families [11][12]. - Special education should also be included in the free education framework, with a goal of implementing 15 years of free education for disabled students [12][13]. - The expansion of free education should be gradual and within the limits of national financial capacity to avoid pitfalls seen in other countries [13][15]. Group 4: Compulsory Education and System Reform - The proposal to explore extending compulsory education is seen as a necessary step to enhance national human resources and address social transformation [14][16]. - The current six-three school system may need reform to better align with contemporary educational needs, with suggestions to consider a five-four system or a nine-year integrated system [17][18]. - The adjustment of the education system should be gradual and scientifically structured to meet diverse regional and developmental needs [18].