BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- China will explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance special education, and promote the integration of AI technology into all aspects of teaching and learning, according to an action plan jointly issued by seven government departments.
The plan for special education development and improvement, released by the Ministry of Education and six other departments, outlines measures to promote high-quality, integrated development of special education and further improve the special education system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
The plan proposes new models of human-machine collaboration, including intelligent learning companions and AI-assisted teachers, and explores AI applications aimed at providing classroom assistance for students with disabilities, as well as home-based teaching for those with severe disabilities.
It also calls for greater use of AI, big data, virtual reality and other new technologies in special education, while encouraging efforts to improve digital infrastructure in special education schools and expand special education resources on the national smart education platform.
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The action plan makes the digitalization of special education a key driver of its development over the next five years, said an official with the Ministry of Education.
He noted that advances in information technology have created new opportunities for the sector in recent years. A special education section has been launched on the national smart education platform, while local authorities have also explored ways to use digital technologies to support individualized education.
However, digitalization in China's special education sector remains at an early stage, with shortages of resources and insufficient application still posing challenges, the official said.
China has stepped up efforts to promote the high-quality development of special education over the past decade. By 2025, the country had 2,464 special education schools, 927,000 special education students and 85,100 full-time special education teachers, representing increases of 33 percent, 145 percent and 95 percent, respectively, from 2012, official data showed.
The enrollment rate of school-age children with disabilities in compulsory education had reached 97 percent in 2025, with the plan aiming to keep it above 97 percent through 2030.
The plan also calls for further improvements to support mechanisms for special education, enhanced digital and intelligent capabilities, and the establishment of a high-quality, integrated and inclusive special education system by 2030.