POLICY GAPS IN CHINA’S AI-IN-EDUCATION SYSTEM
Keywords:
Artificial intelligence in education; China education policy; Squirrel AI; facial recognition in schools; AI governance; data privacy; teacher agency; educational technology; smart campuses; policy–practice gap.Abstract
This paper examines the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in China’s education system and identifies the persistent policy–practice gap that emerges as national strategies meet local realities. Although China’s central government promotes AI as a tool for modernization, personalization, and efficient school governance, implementation remains uneven and often controversial. Drawing on national policy documents and recent research, the paper analyzes two illustrative cases: the adaptive learning platform Squirrel AI and the facial-recognition “smart campus” initiative at Hangzhou No. 11 High School. These cases highlight challenges related to teacher preparation, algorithmic transparency, data governance, and commercial influence. The analysis shows that China’s ambitious AI reforms rely on policy narratives that emphasize innovation but provide limited operational guidance, leaving schools to interpret and enact AI policies with insufficient regulatory support. The paper argues that meaningful and ethical AI integration requires clearer governance standards, stronger teacher training, and more explicit protections for student data and well-being. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about the conditions necessary for effective and responsible AI adoption in education.
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