education

Class Divide: Raising the Voices of Vocational Students

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Often portrayed as “failures” and “dropouts,” students are writing to change the narrative on vocational education in China.

Jiemian News

Gansu Kindergarten Poisoning: 6 Arrests, Probe Finds Cover-Up

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Authorities say over 240 children were poisoned by lead-tainted food at Peixin Kindergarten, with school leaders, hospital staff, and regulators all implicated in a widening investigation.

He Qitong

Pet Degree: A Top Chinese School Debuts a Companion Animal Major

With an estimated 100 million-plus pet owners in the country, higher education institutions are beginning to realize the potential in pet-related courses.

‘Too Big a Risk’: Chinese Students Rethink the American Dream

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

After an abrupt visa freeze and a vague policy reversal, many Chinese students find themselves locked out, or walking away, from what had long been the default path to opportunity.

Chen Yiru

Amid Gaokao, Students Turn to a Reclusive Math Genius for Luck

Wei Dongyi had largely stayed out of the public eye since going viral in 2021. But a surprise appearance on Douyin ahead of China’s college entrance exam last week drew millions of new followers within days.

Li Xin

Time Travel to Super Memory: China’s ‘Brain’ Schools Sell the Surreal

Thousands of companies promising to unlock young children’s brain potential have opened in recent years, drawing in eager parents — and concern from the scientific community.

The Chinese Families Choosing an African Education

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

For some, it’s a path to a more global life for their kids.

An Ning

A Love Letter to Overseas Chinese Moms

Or, how I learned to make peace with raising a mostly monolingual kid.

Zhou Shuxuan

China’s Top Court Eases Burden on Schools Over Student Injuries

The ruling reduces legal risk for schools while reaffirming their duties in supervision, safety education, and preventing bullying.

Ding Rui

Chinese Firm Used Fake UN Website to Target Students: Xinhua 

Students were offered fake U.N. internships and awards for a fee, using copied websites and forged documents to appear legitimate.

Fan Yiying

Want Kids to Stay in School? Let Them Keep Their Phones.

Phone confiscations are playing a surprisingly big role in rural China’s drop-out problem.

Shen Hui

Young, Tired, and Still Trying: China’s Next Generation Rethinks Success

Writer Peter Hessler and anthropologist Xiang Biao on the changing lives of young Chinese, the meaning of hard work, and why parents should cut their kids some slack.

Sixth Tone

‘I Love Him’: A Suicide, a Student’s Diary, and a School’s Reckoning

A high school teacher’s alleged sexual assault of his student caused her years of depression and her eventual suicide.

Original (Jiefang Daily)

China Probes Online Side Job Scam That Cost Teachers Millions

A growing number of teachers say they lost money to a platform that faked students and delayed payments before disappearing entirely.

Chinese Tech Firms Want LLM Experts. AI Majors Need Not Apply.

A recent survey found postings for AI-related technical positions increased by more than a fifth in the first two months of 2025, but nearly half the positions require a postgraduate degree. 

A Star Actor Tried His Hand at Teaching English. The Reviews Are Mixed.

The Hong Kong-based martial artist and actor Daniel Wu launched a spoken English course. Some fans aren’t buying it.

China’s Top Universities Want to Get Bigger. Literally.

Elite schools say they will enroll more students as the country tries to keep up in science and tech.

Xs and Whys: China's Top Math Coach Looks Back

A Chinese national team head coach talks on the triumphs and recent travails of the popular mathematics competition in China.

The Paper

AI Study Rooms Are Filling China’s Tutoring Gap — For a Price

Promoted as a low-cost alternative to private coaching, study spaces are using AI-driven learning models and skirt strict tutoring regulations.

To Dodge Phone Bans, Chinese Students Hide Them in Plain Sight

Students are using disguised water bottles, notebooks, and mirrors to sneak smartphones into classrooms, fueling a booming market for hidden phone gadgets.