The proposal and suggestion of China's compulsory education system originated in the early 20th century. At the end of Qing Dynasty, China was in the period of abolishing imperial examinations, popularizing schools and establishing a new academic system. Most countries in Europe and America and Japan in Asia generally implemented compulsory education. Some officials of the Qing government learned of this situation and used the words "compulsory education" and "compulsory education" when drafting relevant documents of the Qing court in the early 20th century. 1900, the constitution of imperial academy drafted by Zhang Baixi, the minister of management (formerly known as "benevolence and seclusion academic system") embodies the idea of compulsory education, stipulating that: "Children will receive four years' education from the age of six and enter ordinary primary schools for three years at the age of 10. After all schools in Egypt are established, people of all colors should receive these seven years of education and then let them do their own work. " 1904, the Qing government promulgated the regulations on playing schools (formerly known as the numao academic system). The Charter of Huanzhuan Primary School further points out: "The common practice in foreign countries is that primary and secondary schools implement nationwide enrollment, which is called compulsory education; No one will blame their parents except illness and accidents. " In the "educational syllabus" of the school's articles of association, it is also clearly written: "Primary schools are the foundation of moral education, and all countries are born in compulsory education. According to the laws of eastern and western countries, all children and those who didn't go to primary school in the first year of school offend their parents and are called compulsory education. Guy knows that this is the foundation of the country. "

After the founding of New China, the state implemented universal education. "Compulsory education" and "universal education" are two concepts with different contents, and the distinctive feature of compulsory education is the compulsory and universal legal guarantee. Nevertheless, by 1965, there were1160.32 million school-age children and 9,82910000 school-age children, and the enrollment rate of school-age children reached 84.7%. At this time, most of the funds for universal education are borne by the government, and only a small amount of miscellaneous fees and books are charged to students.

From 65438 to 0986, China promulgated the Compulsory Education Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). This is the first time that China has fixed free compulsory education by law, which means that school-age "children" must receive nine-year compulsory education.