Local authorities are starting to implement measures following Beijing’s announcement that all elementary and middle school students should be introduced to cutting-edge technology.

Located in Zhejiang Province, China, Hangzhou is set to implement compulsory artificial intelligence (AI) classes for elementary and middle school students when the next academic term begins – as part of a initiative –
nationwide strategy
to foster skill development within the swiftly expanding industry.

The effort aims to create a pathway for skilled professionals while enhancing teachers’ skills in utilizing intelligent technologies and safeguarding information, encompassing instruction for both students and staff, as stated in two reports issued by the municipal education department.

Educational institutions will be able to choose their own methods for delivering instruction — whether by grouping all lessons into one week or incorporating artificial intelligence materials into fields such as computer studies and natural sciences.

Are you curious about the most significant issues and developments happening globally? Find your answers here with
SCMP Knowledge
Our latest platform offering handpicked content including explanations, frequently asked questions, analysis, and visual graphics, presented by our acclaimed team.

Projects centered around artificial intelligence can be integrated into regional educational programs, enabling motivated students to pursue higher-level learning and practical exposure. Simple AI-based tasks might also be included in extracurricular activities.

Hangzhou, which hosts rapidly expanding technology startups such as
DeepSeek
and
Unitree Robotics
, announced the initiatives during a press briefing on Friday, as reported by The Paper, mandating a minimum of 10 instructional hours annually. This industry has quickly become a key driver of growth despite fluctuating trade and technology constraints enforced by the United States.

The standards outline the curriculum, prerequisites, and instructional approaches for different grade levels. During the initial two years of elementary education, pupils will encounter common artificial intelligence uses, engage with fundamental tools, and understand how technology influences everyday situations. Lessons will emphasize proper usage, particularly highlighting issues related to personal data protection.

Students in third and fourth grade will develop straightforward projects utilizing AI technologies to collect text, pictures, and sound for academic assignments and daily activities. By fifth and sixth grade, they will explore various AI situations and fundamental concepts such as decision trees and neural networks along with methods like logical deduction and exhaustive search.

At the junior high school level, pupils will explore the complete AI process — starting with data collection and model development through to prediction — as they tackle practical issues and assess generated artificial intelligence. During high school, the emphasis will move towards hands-on projects, allowing students to create AI frameworks and build smart entities, refining their skills in utilizing the technology within everyday situations.

The statement corresponds to a countrywide initiative. In December 2024, China’s Ministry of Education recommended that schools should
expand AI instruction
In early and middle school levels, emphasizing the importance of fostering imagination, scientific interest, and technological abilities. In May this year, the ministry released two directives to manage the application of AI in educational institutions, ensuring suitable usage for different age groups.

Local authorities have started taking action. After Beijing announced in March that students will be required to take at least eight hours of AI classes each year beginning this autumn, Guangdong Province implemented a requirement of at least six hours per year starting from elementary school.

More Articles from SCMP

A missing father from Hong Kong and his young son “were in Shenzhen, now returned home”

China’s servers and semiconductor manufacturers step into a ‘supercycle’ as artificial intelligence processing power surges.

China disputes U.S. freedom of navigation initiatives, stating they lack a legal foundation

The advantages of charitable activities considered by family offices

The piece was first published in the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a top-tier news outlet covering developments in China and Asia.

© 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.