The government supports private educational organizations. The first Law on Promotion of Private Education came into effect on September 1, 2003.

Development of private schools means an increase in overall education supply and a change in the traditional pattern of government-only schools, so as to meet educational needs. At the end of 2004, there were more than 70,000 private schools of all types and level, with a total enrollment of 14.16 million, including 1,279 private institutes of higher learning, with a total enrollment of 1.81 million.

Private schools have pioneered cooperation with foreign partners in the running of schools and many foreign universities have entered China this way, which has both enriched China's education resources and opened new channels for students' further studies.