China to Waive Preschool Fees for Final Year Children in Public Kindergartens

Beginning in the upcoming autumn semester, children enrolled in their final year at public kindergartens in China will no longer be required to pay care and education fees, as per a new directive issued by the General Office of the State Council. This exemption is applicable to the standard fees established by the government for public kindergartens but excludes additional costs such as meals and boarding.

For families choosing private kindergartens, the fee reduction will align with the charges of nearby public kindergartens. However, private institutions may still impose extra fees should their tuition rates exceed the waived amounts stipulated by the new guideline.

To mitigate the financial impact on kindergartens due to these waivers, the Chinese government plans to distribute subsidies to both private and public educational institutions, with the subsidy size determined by the number of children benefiting from this policy and the fee structures of each local kindergarten. Local governments are urged to allocate necessary funds promptly to ensure that kindergartens can continue operating smoothly without delays in teacher salaries.

Preschool education in China typically covers three years for children between the ages of 3 and 6. As of last year, there were approximately 253,300 kindergartens in the country, marking a decline from the previous year, alongside a significant drop in enrollment with 35.84 million children attending, reflecting a loss of over five million students.

This demographic trend includes a noted decrease in newborns, reaching only 9.54 million last year, a stark contrast to the peak of 17.86 million births in 2016. Analysts suggest that this decline in birth rates and kindergarten enrollment has catalyzed the urgency of implementing the new policy.

The Chinese government has increasingly invested in preschool education by establishing more affordable kindergarten options, signifying a commitment to bolstering this sector, which has been historically underdeveloped within China's broader education framework. This initiative is also aligned with the Government Work Report's call for a gradual expansion of free preschool education, further supported by the recent Preschool Education Law.

Experts have indicated that the rising cost of living and educational expenses present significant financial burdens for families, particularly those with lower incomes. By eliminating preschool fees, the initiative is expected to provide substantial financial relief to these families.

However, implementing such a policy will necessitate considerable financial backing, prompting experts to advocate for a careful, phased approach to ensure sustainability and quality in education amidst substantial student populations. It remains crucial for local governments to secure funding specifically for this initiative without diverting resources from essential services such as teacher salaries and kindergarten facilities.