Math, English… and AI: Beijing Schools Introduce a New Mandatory Subject

Once upon a time, the "new" mandatory subject in schools was English. Then came programming. Now, in 2025, the new subject is artificial intelligence — students in Beijing will start learning AI just like they learn math or their native language. And this is no longer a pilot project, but the new norm.

Table of Contents:

• Not an elective, but a mandatory program
• 8+ hours a year, starting from the younger grades
• Practice in younger grades, innovation in older grades
• Strategic goal — China's leadership in AI
• A step into the technological future

Not an Elective, But a Mandatory Program

Starting in the 2025 school year, schools in Beijing will introduce mandatory artificial intelligence classes — from elementary school to high school. This is not an elective, nor an advanced club for the best students, but a part of the basic school curriculum.

This move is part of China's national strategy to transform the country into a global leader in AI. And this transformation begins not at universities, but literally from the school desk.

8+ Hours a Year, Starting from the Younger Grades

At the first stage, the AI classes will take up 8 to 12 academic hours a year — roughly one lesson per month. Is that a small amount? Perhaps. But what matters more is that children will start early and systematically getting acquainted with key AI concepts, without the fear-mongering of "robots that will replace everyone," and without overwhelming theory.

In elementary school, students will learn simple things: what algorithms are, how machine learning works, why neural networks have "errors," and how technology can recognize faces or translate texts. All of this will be taught in a playful way, but with real examples.

For instance, third graders might train a neural network to "guess" animals from drawings, or observe how a computer "learns" to sort images of fruits. This is not abstract theory, but understandable, engaging activities that make the child go home and tell their parents: "Did you know that a computer can learn to tell an apple from an orange?"

Practice in Younger Grades, Innovation in Older Grades

The older the student, the deeper the program gets. In middle school, basic programming skills, working with sensors, and using simple AI models are introduced, while in high school, students engage in project work, participate in hackathons, and take part in inter-school competitions.

For example, one of the high school projects involves creating a system that can recognize emotions in a person's voice and help elderly people or those with hearing impairments better understand their conversation partners. Other teams are working on mini-drones that can navigate space without GPS—using only a camera and computer vision algorithms.

This isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about creativity, independent thinking, and engineering courage. These are exactly the kinds of skills that will be in demand in a world where AI is no longer science fiction.

Strategic Goal — China's Leadership in AI

Why is China focusing on schools? The answer is simple: if you want to be number one tomorrow, start preparing the team today.

China has long been in competition with the USA and other countries in the field of AI. Major models are being created here, large-scale government programs are underway, and many laboratories are operating. But technology is developing quickly—and there’s a need for talent. Not just developers, but people who understand the nature of AI, can work with it meaningfully, ethically, and effectively.

That’s why AI isn’t just about programming. It’s about flexible thinking, working with data, and having a critical perspective. The earlier a student understands this, the more likely they are to become not just a user of technology, but a creator of it.

A Step into the Technological Future

Beijing is already showing what the future of education might look like: when school becomes the entry point into high technology, and AI is no longer a scary term, but a skill just like writing or multiplication tables.

What will the results of this experiment be? Will the rest of the world follow Beijing's example? We at ED-EX.com are curious too!

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