Chinese mathematician calls for removal of English as compulsory school subject

In a viral social-media post, mathematics professor Tang Jiafeng urged China to drop English as a graded core subject across all education levels, arguing that children are forced to learn it before mastering Chinese and that AI can translate instantly. Tang, celebrated for producing top-scoring math students, claims the current system wastes time and resources on a language he deems irrelevant to most future careers. Former a editor at one outlet counters, emphasizing English's role in global engagement and rural equal-opportunity.

Online commentators echo both sides, with some suggesting a reduced weighting of English in the high-school graduation exam. Universities specializing in foreign languages, such as Beijing Foreign Studies University, are already adapting curricula to combine English with other majors. The debate echoes historic Chinese efforts to balance foreign learning with domestic tradition.