Should Chinese schools demote English as a core subject?
Calls to reduce English’s status as a core subject in China’s education system have resurfaced after an internet-famous maths teacher urged the country to end “worshipping foreign things”. The controversy has revived a long-running debate over the role of English in Chinese schools. The argument came to life again after Tang Jiafeng, a maths teacher known for coaching students through the…
A debate has resurfaced in China regarding whether the country should reduce the status of English as a core subject in its education system. The controversy was sparked by remarks from a maths teacher, Tang Jiafeng, who argued that excessive focus on English has taken away time and resources from other subjects and is unnecessary for most jobs.
Tang called for stripping English of its "core subject" status in schools, stating that it should be treated like a tool rather than an idolized foreign concept. History, on the other hand, supports keeping English as a core subject due to its global importance and the educational equality it provides. However, critics argue that China's heavy emphasis on English may not be necessary given the growing global use of Chinese and advancements in AI translation.
The 2025 EF English Proficiency Index places China in the "low proficiency" category, raising questions about the effectiveness of the traditional approach to English education.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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