State Council Approves 15th Five-Year Plan for Special Education

China's State Council has granted in-principle approval to the Action Plan for the Development and Enhancement of Special Education during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Issued in an official response to the Ministry of Education and six related agencies, the directive mandates local governments and central departments to safeguard educational opportunities for children and adolescents with disabilities, advance digital integration, and expand accessible public services to support lifelong social integration.

The approval establishes the central government's high-level policy framework for special education across the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan cycle. It provides binding guidance for regional authorities to allocate resources, modernize instructional infrastructure, and expand public-benefit educational access for vulnerable populations.

China's State Council has formally approved in principle the Action Plan for the Development and Enhancement of Special Education for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, according to an official government circular released on August 17, 2026. The approval was issued in response to a joint submission led by the Ministry of Education alongside the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Health Commission, and the China Disabled Persons' Federation. According to the official circular, the implementation of the plan must adhere to national educational guidelines and align with the Outline of the Plan for Building a Leading Country in Education (2024–2035). Central priorities outlined by the cabinet include accelerating the construction of a high-quality special education system, fully guaranteeing educational access for children and adolescents with disabilities, and elevating teaching standards. The State Council highlighted the need to advance the digital development of special education, enhance inclusive and public-benefit services, and expand international exchange and cooperation. These measures aim to improve the accessibility, convenience, and reach of public education services while strengthening the ability of youth with disabilities to integrate into society and achieve lifelong development. Under the directive, provincial, autonomous regional, and municipal governments are instructed to incorporate special education development into their local 15th Five-Year economic and social development agendas. Local authorities are urged to leverage regional strengths and innovate localized measures, while major policies, key engineering works, and priority projects must obtain approval through established formal procedures. Central departments are tasked with refining support measures and resolving operational bottlenecks within their respective jurisdictions. The Ministry of Education will spearhead overall coordination and carry out dynamic monitoring and evaluation throughout the plan's execution, reporting significant developments to the central leadership as required.