China's Ministry of Education issued two policy documents on May 12 to standardize artificial intelligence (AI) education in primary and secondary schools while addressing concerns over misuse and overreliance on technology. The guidelines for AI general education in primary and secondary schools (2025) and the guidelines for the use of generative AI in primary and secondary schools (2025) explicitly prohibit students from submitting AI-generated content as homework or exam answers and restrict the excessive use of AI tools in creative tasks.
The guidelines emphasize age-appropriate integration of AI in education, aiming to balance technological potential with developmental suitability. For primary school students, the use of open-ended generative AI tools is permitted only under the supervision of teachers and parents to prevent hindering foundational knowledge acquisition and cognitive growth. Teachers are encouraged to adopt collaborative approaches that combine human instruction with AI assistance. Middle school students are directed to critically evaluate AI-generated content, verifying its logic and accuracy against reliable sources. High school students, meanwhile, may explore the technical principles of AI and assess its societal impacts through project-based learning. Officials from the Ministry's Basic Education Teaching Guidance Committee stressed that this tiered framework seeks to prevent younger students from misusing or becoming overly dependent on AI due to their limited cognitive maturity.
To safeguard students' independent thinking, the guidelines establish multi-layered safeguards. Direct copying of AI-generated content for assignments or exams is strictly banned, and the overuse of AI in creative projects is curtailed. Teachers are tasked with fostering critical thinking by guiding students to identify flaws, biases, or cultural misalignments in AI outputs, thereby enhancing their ability to analyze and critique information. The guidelines also clarify that AI tools should serve strictly as supplementary aids, with human interaction remaining central to education.
Data security and privacy protections form another critical pillar of the policy. Students and teachers are barred from inputting sensitive information such as exam questions or personal identification details into AI tools. Schools must implement a "whitelist" system, permitting only AI applications that meet stringent educational and data compliance standards after rigorous evaluation. Education authorities will further conduct ongoing audits of AI providers' data practices, including collection, storage, and usage, to ensure legal adherence.
The move reflects China's broader effort to harness AI's educational benefits while mitigating risks such as academic dishonesty and ethical breaches. As global debates intensify over AI's role in classrooms, particularly with tools like Deepseek, China positions itself as a pioneer in establishing structured guardrails for responsible AI integration. The guidelines are set to take effect with full implementation expected by 2025, though challenges in enforcement and practical adaptation remain to be seen.
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