China rolls out AI literacy courses across primary and secondary school curricula

Starting in the autumn 2026 semester, multiple Chinese cities have introduced artificial intelligence literacy courses in primary and secondary schools, covering topics from understanding AI and using AI to using it well and questioning AI. Jiangsu Province has rolled out AI literacy courses across all its primary and secondary schools, reaching every campus and every student. Shandong Province requires AI-related courses in compulsory education, with no less than 6 class hours per academic year for grades 1-2 and no less than 8 class hours for grades 3-9, plus an optional high school module titled Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. The Ministry of Education said it will accelerate the popularization of AI education and plans a vertically integrated, full-stage AI education system by 2030.

This is the first time China has incorporated AI literacy into the primary and secondary curriculum system at the provincial level with class-hour standards and full-coverage requirements, directly changing school scheduling, teacher staffing and procurement of teaching materials and tools, and shaping the compliance path and scale for AI education products entering classrooms. For parents and students, AI courses shift from optional interest classes to regular learning content. For product providers, national platform support for rural and remote-area schools means deployment will lean toward unified platforms and inclusive scenarios. Public information so far covers only course arrangements and class-hour requirements, with no independent research or quantitative results proving learning outcomes. Provincial class-hour standards and full-coverage requirements will directly change school scheduling, teacher training and the pace of AI teaching product procurement. National platform support for rural and remote-area schools may make AI education product deployment more dependent on unified platforms and inclusive scenarios.