How English is taught is the problem to address

Whether English deserves an equal status as Chinese and mathematics in the syllabuses of primary and middle schools, as well as in the college entrance exam, and whether a certain level of fluency in the language should be made a prerequisite for a bachelor degree even for those that do not major in it has generated heated debate among the country's top political advisors at their annual gatherings for several years.

Both sides of the argument sound reasonable. The opponents claim the nation has wasted its resources on English education as most college graduates, after learning the language for at least 15 years, still cannot adeptly use the language. The advancement of technology, such as artificial intelligence, makes their side of the argument more persuasive, since most college graduates do not need to use English with any frequency after graduation and they can rely on technology to overcome the language barrier when necessary.

The supporters argue that if English became an optional course, the country would have created an unnecessary obstacle for its opening-up to the world, as people-to-people exchanges would be more difficult, which is the foundation of good relations between countries.