China Rethinks Special Education: Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Traditional Methods?
By ALDAR/
As part of its efforts to modernize the special education system, the People’s Republic of China has unveiled a forward-looking plan for the 2026-2030 period. The plan aims to improve the quality of the sector and strengthen its ability to keep pace with technological developments and the needs of its beneficiaries, particularly students with disabilities, in order to provide a more inclusive, integrated and high-quality education.
The plan notably seeks to explore the potential of artificial intelligence at different stages of the educational process, while expanding the use of advanced digital technologies, which are regarded as one of the key drivers of the sector’s development during the 2026-2030 period.
The plan was jointly launched by seven government bodies, including the Ministry of Education. It calls for the development of new forms of human-machine collaboration within the education system, including intelligent learning companions and teachers assisted by artificial intelligence technologies.
In the same context, the use of these technologies will not be limited to classrooms. The plan also calls for the development of intelligent applications designed to support students with disabilities in their learning, as well as home-based educational support for children with severe disabilities who are unable to benefit from regular schooling.
The plan also encourages greater use of artificial intelligence, big data, virtual reality and other emerging technologies in special education, alongside efforts to modernize the digital infrastructure of specialized educational institutions.
It further calls for strengthening the presence of special education resources on the national smart education platform, with the aim of expanding access to digital educational content and resources tailored to this group of learners.
This strategic initiative is part of China’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of special education, following the intensification of the country’s efforts in this field over the past decade.
