According to an announcement on the Beijing Municipal Education Commission’s website, schools in Beijing will introduce at least eight hours of AI instruction periodically, beginning with the upcoming fall semester on September 1. These courses can be offered as standalone subjects or integrated into existing disciplines such as information technology and science.
The initiative emphasizes the development of foundational AI courses aligned with national curriculum standards. The document states, “Build municipal general basic courses. Implement the requirements of the national curriculum plan and curriculum standards, and offer all courses related to artificial intelligence education.”
Additionally, the plan aims to create localized AI curricula tailored for primary and secondary schools, as outlined in the “Beijing Local Curriculum Outline for Artificial Intelligence Education in Primary and Secondary Schools (Trial).” The guidelines will include teaching materials and student learning manuals designed to match the cognitive abilities of students at different educational stages. The curriculum will also feature dynamic, up-to-date resources that incorporate the latest advancements in AI technologies and methodologies.
This move comes amid intensifying competition between China and the United States in the AI domain. Earlier this year, China’s DeepSeek unveiled a more efficient and faster AI model, rivaling those developed in the U.S.
Beijing’s educational initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to promoting the widespread adoption of large-scale AI models and advancing next-generation intelligent devices and manufacturing equipment.
In a recent statement, Huai Jinpeng, China’s Minister of Education, revealed that the country plans to release a white paper on AI education in 2025, further underscoring its dedication to fostering AI literacy and innovation among its younger generations.