By Anas Abbas
In a strategic move to bolster its position in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, China is set to launch dedicated AI courses in primary and secondary schools.
The initiative, announced by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, will commence in the upcoming fall semester, starting September 1.
According to the announcement, schools in Beijing will offer a minimum of eight hours of AI instruction periodically.
These classes can be conducted as independent courses or integrated into existing subjects such as information technology and science.
The directive emphasizes the need for schools to develop comprehensive foundational courses that align with national curriculum standards while focusing on artificial intelligence education.
It encourages the exploration of localized AI curricula tailored for primary and secondary education. The document, outlines plans to create teaching guidelines and student learning materials that cater to the cognitive development of students at various educational stages.
It also highlights the importance of developing diverse and regularly updated resources to incorporate the latest advancements in technology and methodologies.
This educational initiative comes amid a growing rivalry between China and the United States in the AI domain, particularly following the release of DeepSeek’s new model, which competes directly with American counterparts.
Additionally, China’s government has committed to promoting the widespread application of large-scale AI models and advancing next-generation intelligent devices and manufacturing technologies.
Huai Jinpeng, China’s Minister of Education, has indicated that a comprehensive white paper on AI education is expected to be published by 2025.