China's schoolchildren are now the smartest in the world

Young students salute the national flag during a flag-raising ceremony at a primary school in Beijing. - China Daily

BEIJING: Chinese students far out-stripped peers in every other country in survey of reading, math and science ability, underscoring a reserve of future economic strength and the struggle of advanced economies to keep up.

The OECD’s triennial study of 15 year-old students across the world found that the four Chinese provinces tested -- Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang -- outperformed in science and mathematics, even if household income is well below members’ average. In reading, the 10% most disadvantaged Chinese students tested had better skills than the OECD average.