Xi Jinping Honors Teachers and Rural Educators in Nationwide Message Ahead of China’s Teacher’s Day

In the letter, which was released to state media on September 8, 2025, Xi praised the two‑decade legacy of the Special Post Plan – a nationwide initiative that places teachers in rural and under‑served schools. He noted that these “people’s teachers” have “rooted themselves in the classroom, diligently cultivated talent and silently dedicated themselves,” portraying them as embodiments of the “educator spirit” that the Party seeks to nurture across all levels of schooling. The greeting also extended sincere condolences to teachers who have passed away, adding a humanising touch to the otherwise formal tribute.

The President’s remarks are not an isolated gesture. Over the past several years, Xi has repeatedly highlighted the centrality of teachers to China’s long‑term development goals. On September 10, 2024, he called for a concerted push to “strengthen teachers’ souls with the spirit of educators,” urging improvements in teacher ethics, training quality, and professional status. The emphasis on “teacher ethics” (师德建设) mirrors a broader political narrative that links moral character formation (立德树人) with national rejuvenation. A year earlier, in a video‑address delivered on September 11, 2023, Xi sent congratulations to outstanding teacher representatives, urging them to make “new and greater contributions to the great cause of building a strong nation.”

These annual messages arrive against a backdrop of policy reforms aimed at elevating the teaching profession. The Party Central Committee, of which Xi is General Secretary, has rolled out a series of initiatives to raise the political, social, and professional standing of educators. Among them are expanded pathways for teacher qualification, enhanced remuneration in remote areas, and a systematic push to integrate ideological education with modern pedagogical methods. The Special Post Teachers programme, launched in 2005, is a flagship example: it offers recent university graduates guaranteed placement in rural schools, coupled with financial incentives and career development support. By the end of 2024, more than 2 million teachers had taken up these posts, a figure that Xi highlighted as a testament to the “responsibility of people’s teachers.”

Beyond teachers, Xi’s greeting also mentioned “education workers nationwide” and, in a broader version of the statement, extended goodwill to the country’s youth and youth workers. This inclusive phrasing reflects the Party’s holistic view of the education ecosystem, where teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff are all considered essential contributors to the nation’s “powerful education nation” ambition. The reference to “youth of all ethnic groups” underscores the Party’s commitment to ethnic unity and equal educational opportunities across China’s diverse demographic landscape.

While the official narrative is clear, public reaction to Xi’s latest tribute appears muted in the available media coverage. A scan of Chinese social platforms such as Weibo did not reveal significant discussion or viral commentary surrounding the greeting. This could suggest that the message, like many state‑issued statements, is largely absorbed as part of the routine political calendar rather than sparking widespread debate. Nonetheless, the repeated acknowledgment of teachers each September reinforces the symbolic weight the Party places on the profession.

The timing of the message is also noteworthy. Teacher’s Day in China falls on September 10, marking the birthday of educator Yan Fuqing, a figure celebrated for his dedication to modernizing Chinese schooling. By aligning the greeting with this date, the Party not only honors individual teachers but also taps into a historic narrative that venerates education as a cornerstone of national strength. In recent years, the celebrations have taken on an increasingly political hue, with the leadership using the occasion to reiterate core ideological themes and to showcase concrete policy steps aimed at improving the teaching profession.

In sum, Xi Jinping’s latest festive greeting to teachers nationwide is more than a courteous acknowledgment; it is a reaffirmation of a strategic vision that places educators at the heart of China’s developmental agenda. By lauding the Special Post Teachers, emphasizing ethical cultivation, and promising continual upgrades to training and status, the President signals a sustained commitment to strengthening the “soul” of the nation through its teachers. Whether these proclamations translate into tangible improvements on the ground will depend on the implementation of the outlined reforms, but the symbolic message is unmistakable: the Party sees the future of China as inseparable from the dedication and moral vigor of its educators.