Gaokao Spotlights China's Inclusive Education System

 

Guest Article by Li Xinshu, People's Daily

The homeroom teacher of Jiang Xintong cheers up his differently abled student before Gaokao - Picture by Ziyang Guancha

Amid China's 2025 national college entrance examination, known as gaokao, scenes of quiet determination played out across the country.

In Suzhou, east China's Anhui province, Wang Ziwen, a student with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as "brittle bone disease", was gently assisted into the exam hall by staff.

In Ziyang, southwest China's Sichuan province, Jiang Xintong, paralyzed from the waist down due to myelitis, arrived at the examination room 30 minutes early via a special access route. In Shenzhen, Guangdong province in south China, Chen Xinhe, the only fully blind candidate in the province, took his braille exam with the support of special education teachers, a counselor, and medical staff arranged by the test center.

These touching moments reflect not only the resilience of the examinees, but also the progressive enhancement of inclusivity measures within China's education system.

Reasonable accommodation for examinees with disabilities are now systematically standardised: Blind candidates receive 150 percent of the standard exam duration; those with hearing impairments may utilise assistive devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants; candidates with severe upper limb disabilities or those with severe writing difficulties are granted a 30 percent time extension.

Students help push their differently abled classmate out of an exam venue after the national college entrance examination in Suqian, east China's Jiangsu province - Picture by Chen Hong/People's Daily Online

Of the 13.35 million students who registered for gaokao this year, over 14,000 candidates with disabilities qualified for specialized support - a stark contrast to the mere 100 students in 2012 - representing a 140-fold increase in just over a decade.

Gaokao has long been regarded in China as one of the most equitable systems for talent selection. This perception stems not only from its rigorous procedures and transparent mechanisms, but also from its institutional inclusiveness - offering individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds an equitable pathway to pursue academic aspirations. For candidates with disabilities, this educational access constitutes a profound motivator.

The rights to survival and development are among the most fundamental human rights. As China advances economically while strengthening public services and social security systems, the basic needs of people with disabilities are increasingly met. Building upon this foundation, more attention now focuses on fulfilling their self-actualization aspirations. The once-exceptional practice of requesting examination accommodations has evolved into standardized practice, exemplifying how a modern society elevates vulnerable populations through systemic compassion.

Education is essential to the holistic human development. As of 2024, China has more than 915,900 students enrolled in special education programs. Initiatives such as assistive device access in schools, large-print textbooks included in the national curriculum, as well as flexible programs like home-based instruction and remote learning, have helped special education steadily advance, creating a pathway for students with disabilities to achieve personal growth and success. While individual journeys differ, inspiring stories multiply of students overcoming physical challenges to lead fulfilling lives.

Beyond education, China is working to improve support across the full spectrum of life.

In employment, tailored job assistance for college graduates with disabilities and local job creation projects have been rolled out, and more than 9 million people with disabilities were employed across China in 2024.

In healthcare, dynamic adjustment mechanisms for severe disability care subsidies are being refined, and participation in disability-inclusive health insurance programs continues to rise. A more comprehensive and tightly woven support network, ranging from daily care to medical treatment, is being built to better empower people with disabilities in their pursuit of aspirations.

Through equitable, inclusive, and accessible approaches to public welfare, China is striving to ensure that the benefits of development are shared by all, regardless of physical conditions.