Opinion: It’s Time to Make Free Preschool a Reality
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Children play a game on Sept. 26 at a kindergarten in Huzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province. Phoo: Xinhua
At the recently concluded annual gatherings of China’s lawmakers and political advisors, known as “Two Sessions,” preschool emerged as a focal point. The government work report proposed “gradually implementing free preschool education” for the first time. Education ministry officials indicated they would develop relevant policies, focusing on universal access, educational layout and teacher preparation.
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- China plans to gradually implement free preschool education, highlighted in its recent governmental sessions, with a focus on universal access and teacher preparation policies.
- Preschool education is deemed crucial for cognitive and social development, offering substantial returns on investment and promoting social mobility; over 30 countries provide free preschool.
- By 2023, China's preschool enrollment reached 91.1%, with most kindergartens being affordable; strategies for implementation include phased approaches, with emphasis on local economic capacity.
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What Happened When
- 2023：
- The gross enrollment rate in preschool education in China reached 91.1%, surpassing upper-middle-income country averages. Coverage of affordable kindergartens increased to 86.16%
- 2025：
- The government work report proposed for the first time the gradual implementation of free preschool education starting in 2025. The Third Plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee called for exploring expanded free education in 2025. The Preschool Education Law, effective June 1, 2025, mandates the gradual implementation of free preschool education where conditions permit.
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