Together, Igniting the Spark of Critical Thinking in Young Minds
The “Telling China’s Story Well” National Language Literacy Competition for Primary and Secondary School Students, organised by the China Educational Television Association and included in the Ministry of Education’s whitelist of national competitions for the 2025–2028 academic years, has been officially launched.
As China advances its goals of “cultural confidence” and becoming “a leading country in education”, Telling China’s Story Well has grown beyond a competition for language expression. It has become a meaningful platform for nurturing cultural identity, international communication skills and value-based expression among young learners. Through a standardised debate format, it encourages thoughtful engagement with public issues, fostering logical reasoning, sound judgement and confident public expression in a global context.
This year, Asia International School Limited (“AISL”) has been appointed as the official organising body for the debate category, with five AISL Harrow schools serving as exclusive organisers in Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. This reflects recognition of AISL Harrow’s enduring commitment to talent development and its significant role in advancing debate and critical thinking among young learners.
Dr Ahmed Hussain, Chief Education Officer of AISL, said: “‘Telling China’s Story Well’ is not only a language literacy competition, but also an important platform for developing students’ independent thinking, public expression and cultural understanding. We are honoured to serve as the exclusive partner across five major provinces in China, and to work alongside the organiser to further embed and advance debate and critical thinking in China.”
AISL Harrow Responds to Core Competencies in the AI Era through Nurturing Debate and Critical Thinking Skills
From the “Building a Leading Country in Education Outline” to new curriculum reforms, China is placing increasing emphasis on critical thinking and debate skills – vital abilities for future talent who not only acquire knowledge, but also can think independently, reason logically reasoning, and communicate across cultures with sound values. This vision is deeply aligned with the educational philosophy long upheld by AISL Harrow.
At AISL Harrow, critical thinking is not taught as a standalone subject, but cultivated as a core capability throughout each student’s educational journey. In recent years, AISL Harrow has continued to host initiatives such as the AISL Harrow HuaSheng Championship, integrating critical thinking training into public speaking, writing and interdisciplinary learning, while cultivating students’ leadership and cross-cultural communication.
Drawing on the 450-year holistic education of Harrow School in the UK, AISL Harrow continues to champion independent thought and reflective judgment. In an age where AI is transforming education and society, the truly scarce capability is no longer simply the ability to access information, but the ability to make sound judgements and communicate with clarity and conviction. Debate remains one of the most powerful ways to cultivate these qualities. Pupils learn to reason logically, consider multiple perspectives and articulate their thoughts clearly and confidently — a core strength that will remain irreplaceable in the future.
Telling China’s Story Well with a Global Perspective
“Telling China’s Story Well” is more than a platform for language expression — it is a practice in cultural inheritance and value communication, nurturing students with both global vision and national confidence to share China’s stories and values on the world stage.
AISL Harrow places strong emphasis on the cultivation of Chinese literacy and cultural understanding, enhancing its Chinese curriculum by integrating critical thinking across all learning stages. According to Ms Lina Wang, Associate Director of Education at AISL, AISL Harrow’s Grades 1–12 Chinese critical‑thinking curriculum covers reading, speaking, writing, and cultural understanding, guiding students to form independent perspectives rooted in Chinese culture and to engage globally with confidence and openness.
AISL Harrow has always believed that true internationalisation is not about moving away from one’s culture, but understanding it more deeply while connecting with the world. When students truly understand the history, culture behind China’s stories, they can convey China’s contemporary values in international settings – with confidence, clarity, and heart.
National Registration Now Officially Open
This summer, AISL Harrow invites young people across China to broaden their horizons and discover their own voices through debate and public expression.
Talented young debaters from primary and secondary school across five provinces will gather on AISL Harrow campuses to discuss public issues through rational debate.
The competition will be held at the following AISL Harrow schools:
- AISL Harrow Hengqin: 20–21 June
- AISL Harrow Shanghai: 27 June
- AISL Harrow Haikou: 27–28 June
- AISL Harrow Nanning: 4 July
- AISL Harrow Chongqing: 4–5 July
Registration for the 2026 “Telling China’s Story Well” National Primary and Secondary School Language Literacy Competition is now officially open, covering primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school levels. Participants and families will have the opportunity to visit AISL Harrow campuses and experience the schools’ vibrant culture of critical thinking and holistic education.
AISL Harrow looks forward to welcoming more young people who think deeply, speak confidently, and care about the world—the next voices to share China’s stories with confidence.
Scan the QR code below for official registration information:
