On April 1986, China promulgated the Compulsory Education Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). The promulgation of Compulsory Education Law is a great event in the history of education in China. It marks the establishment of universal compulsory education system in China, the rapid development of basic education in China, and a new stage of curriculum and teaching reform, which is a milestone in modern China education.

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 about this situation and drafted this document in the early 20th century.

1986 April 12, China began to implement 9-year compulsory education. In view of the large number of children who have been out of school for a long time, on May 7, the state began to levy additional taxes on education. On September 28th of that year, the Central Committee proposed to cultivate "four new people" in the new era.

The court used the words "compulsory education" and "compulsory education" in relevant documents.