26. On Education:A Lifelong Education System Is the Only Rational Approach

Authoritarian regimes inevitably attempt to mold their citizens into slaves through education, while democratic nations strive to cultivate citizens through education. Humanity's future lies in democracy, and education's purpose remains teaching people how to be human beings and citizens. As for the extent of a citizen's capabilities, let them develop freely. Education cannot produce geniuses, but it must never stifle them.

This is an era where survival without education is impossible; jobs suitable for the illiterate are gradually disappearing. Thus, a compulsory education system has become indispensable. Yet in our youth, we often dislike studying. But society offers us only one chance to learn; once missed, it cannot be regained. Consequently, "no pain, no gain" becomes the stark reality for most people. Parents who have lived through this inevitably resort to every means to force their children to study, desperate to prevent them from repeating their own academic failures. Yet no matter how hard parents push, the annual admission rates remain stubbornly low, rendering all efforts futile. Caught in this vortex, both students and parents endure relentless struggle and torment, transforming education into suffocating oppression. The root cause of this pressure lies in the shared belief—held by the state, society, and individuals alike—that each person possesses only one chance at education, and once missed, it is lost forever.

If education were accessible without fear of missing out, allowing anyone to return to school at any time to resume learning, parents would no longer need to force their children to study. Consider this example: Zhang graduates from junior high at 16 and chooses not to pursue further education. He enters the workforce. By age 26, he increasingly recognizes the value of learning and decides to return to school. He could then attend high school and, upon graduation, pursue a university degree. Now imagine: when Zhang re-enters the educational system this time, would his parents still need to pressure him to study? Clearly, not at all. This scenario should be the norm in society, not the exception.

To ensure educational equality, society must embrace the concept of lifelong education. This means anyone can return to school at any time to resume studies. As long as they pass entrance exams and meet admission requirements, schools must not refuse them. Every individual possesses the lifelong right to education. It should be perfectly normal for classmates to differ in age by decades. Only when this concept is widely accepted can education truly achieve fairness.

To guarantee educational equality, all schools in society must be treated equally. There should be no distinction between public and private institutions, or between key and non-key schools—especially for institutions from kindergarten through high school. So-called elite schools must not be permitted. Certain institutions that specialize in helping students achieve high exam scores by studying test-taking strategies and training students to boost their marks should be banned, as they severely undermine the fairness of examinations. To safeguard exam integrity, enrollment rates must never be used as a metric for evaluating school quality.

To guarantee educational equality, all universities must adopt uniform admission policies. Bonus points, regional discrimination, and similar practices are strictly prohibited.

To guarantee education for all, education must be free. From kindergarten through university, all levels of education should, in principle, be tuition-free. Otherwise, students unable to afford fees will be denied access to education. Ensuring every citizen has equal access to education is a fundamental responsibility of the state. The state must guarantee both universal access to education and equal access to education. Only by achieving both can a nation truly claim equality.

The purpose of education is to enable every citizen to live a better life. Based on this objective, education must impart knowledge and skills while cultivating civic character.

Vocational education should be a vital component of the educational system. Since anyone may need to change careers, vocational training offers the most efficient pathway to enter a new profession. Enabling citizens to find suitable positions through vocational education should be a fundamental pillar of the national education system.