Zhou Yanna. [Photo/WeChat account: zjrd_wx]

During the fourth session of the 14th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress on Jan 15, Zhou Yanna, principal of the Changzhi Campus of Nanhai Experimental School in Zhoushan, shared her insights on the role of education in advancing national and social progress.

As a deputy to the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress from Zhoushan, Zhou emphasized the vital role of basic education in students' development and success.

Zhoushan comprises 2,085 islands and boasts over 270 kilometers of deep-water coastline. In recent years, the city has added over 13,000 high-quality educational slots, eliminated small-scale schools with fewer than 100 students, and ensured that more than 98 percent of preschoolers, 99 percent of primary school students, and all junior and senior high school students have access to quality education on the islands.

However, Zhou identified specific challenges in AI education and specialized education fields, especially in mountain and island areas. "The resources for AI education are generally insufficient compared to more developed areas of the province," she said.

She called for stronger support for AI education in these regions, including teacher training, the establishment of AI labs, and the expansion of local practice bases through collaboration with universities and tech companies.