'Women hold up half the sky,' says an old Chinese saying—but opportunity is built on education. As Beijing prepares to host a global summit marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 World Conference on Women, the Chinese mainland is showcasing three decades of progress in women's education.
According to the recent white paper China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era, the gender gap in basic education has been virtually eliminated. Over 99.9 percent of primary school–age girls are enrolled, and women now make up 50.76 percent of higher education students—up 14 points since 1995.
These milestones reflect sustained policy efforts: compulsory nine-year schooling, broader university access, and targeted goals in the 13th Five-Year Plan. The 2021 Outline for the Development of Chinese Women further strengthened support at all levels, and the 2022 revision of the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests introduced a lifelong learning system for women.
Investing in girls' education isn't just equitable—it's transformative. The World Bank estimates 12 years of schooling for all girls could add $15 trillion to $30 trillion in global lifetime earnings. Educated women enter the workforce at higher rates, earn better wages, and drive household prosperity, fueling broader economic growth.
As young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and changemakers tune in, the summit offers a chance to learn from the Chinese mainland's journey and explore how investing in women's education can spark innovation and shared progress worldwide.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
