Hainan will develop into an international education and innovation island, especially boosting school education by building over 4,500 new schools, as per the new education plan.

According to the 14th Five-Year Plan for education (2021-2015) issued on July 15, Hainan will be an international education island where international schools and universities will have campuses or full-blown facilities.

Education zones are being built to create zones dedicated to education. They include the Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Education City, and International Education Zone in the Haikou Jiangdong New Area.

Construction of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone and several industrial parks across the island will also be accelerated as key educational platforms.

 

Photo taken on April 5, 2021 shows the Lingshui Li'An International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in Lingshui, Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

The school education drive will ensure there are schools within a “15-minute distance circle” for preschool and compulsory education. By 2025, over  2,500 kindergartens and 1,900 primary and secondary schools will be established to meet the increasing educational demand.

Besides international universities and vocational colleges, Hainan will promote the establishment of Sino-foreign cooperative educational institutions as well as international high schools and kindergartens. Over all, the enhanced educational level will support the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The plan also includes the construction of enterprises and corporations to focus on academia-industry collaboration as well as coordinated development of industry, innovation and talent cultivation chains.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) period, Hainan started more than 400 education projects, with a total investment of about 30 billion yuan ($4.63 billion).