- 7,000 retired teachers to be hired to support rural schools
- Focus on improving education quality and mentoring young teachers
- Teachers will assist in teaching, school management, and training
China is taking a major step to improve rural education by rehiring 7,000 retired teachers in 2025. This initiative aims to use the experience and expertise of veteran educators to enhance teaching quality and educational management in underdeveloped areas.
Announced by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, the program will focus on counties that were recently lifted out of poverty, border regions, ethnic minority areas, and old revolutionary bases. These teachers will help bridge the urban-rural education gap by supporting local schools for at least one academic year.
The retired teachers will take up roles such as vice-principals and contribute to teaching, lesson planning, evaluating classes, conducting workshops, and mentoring young teachers. They will receive a monthly allowance, along with their existing pension, and counties will provide them with accommodation and basic facilities.
Funding will come from both central and local governments, with 20,000 yuan ($2,800) allocated per teacher annually for those teaching at the compulsory education level.
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The initiative builds on China’s existing Silver Age Teaching Program, which began in 2018 for schools and expanded to universities in 2020. Over 20,000 retired schoolteachers and nearly 1,000 retired professors have already participated.
Education expert Xiong Bingqi welcomed the move but cautioned that retired teachers should serve in a supportive role, not replace full-time staff. He stressed the need to maintain a stable teaching workforce and avoid over-reliance on temporary educators.
