During the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) period, China's fiscal expenditure on education reached 4 percent of GDP (in 2012). The historical increase in expenditure has improved the condition of rural schools, narrowing the education gap and promoting equal access to education.

But we should have a clear understanding of the current spending on education and how to improve the quality of education and give students equal access to education.

In 1993, China's Education Reform and Development Outline decided to increase the expenditure on education to 4 percent of GDP by the end of 2000. But the goal was achieved in 2012, more than one decade later. The global average expenditure on education is 4.9 percent of a country's GDP - even in undeveloped countries the average is 4.1 percent.