Following the passage of China’s Preschool Education Law by the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress on Nov. 8, the Ministry of Education (MOE) held a press conference today to provide further insights into the law’s provisions and its implementation. Zhang Wenbin, Director-General of the MOE Department of Policies and Regulations, and Tian Zuyin, Director-General of the MOE Department of Basic Education, spoke to the conference, while Chen Xing, Deputy Director of the General Office, Director of the Information Office, and spokesperson for MOE, served as moderator.
Zhang noted the importance of preschool education. He mentioned that despite its rapid growth in recent years, preschool education remains an underdeveloped area in China’s national education system, requiring legislative support to ensure consistent and high-quality development.
According to Zhang, the new law establishes a dedicated legal framework for preschool education in China, covering the following aspects:
1. Strengthening Party leadership. The law mandates that preschool education adhere to the leadership of the CPC and maintain a socialist orientation. It prioritizes moral education, setting a foundation for nurturing well-rounded citizens for the country.
2. Defining the public service role of preschool education. Preschool education is defined as care and instruction, by kindergartens and similar institutions, of children from age three until they enter elementary school. It is recognized as an essential public service as well as a crucial part of the national education system. The law requires the government to promote universal access to well-planed, publicly funded, affordable, and quality education in both urban and rural areas, with favorable policies for rural, ethnic minority, and economically disadvantaged regions as well as guaranteed support for children from impoverished families, children with disabilities, and children living in rural areas, among others.
3. Improving government-led development and funding. The law specifies that development efforts should be government-led, while private contributions should also be encouraged. A multi-channel funding system with government providing most resources will be put in place to ease the economic burden of childcare and education for families.
4. Adopting a child-centric approach. The law highlights children’s rights to safety, health, respect, and equal access to preschool education. Local governments are required to facilitate access to nearby kindergartens, with any type of exam or test prohibited from the admission processes. Additionally, kindergartens must adopt inclusive practices, admitting children with disabilities who are capable of participating in preschool programs.
5. Enhancing the preschool teaching workforce. Kindergarten teachers, principals, caregivers, and health staff should possess specific qualifications. Kindergartens must conduct background checks and health evaluations before hiring teachers and staff, provide enhanced training, and ensure payment of salary and benefits.
6. Improving law-based supervision and management. Emphasizing the need for robust governance, the law stipulates regulation of fees, improvement of safety management, evaluation of quality, and clarification of the legal responsibilities of various parties involved in preschool education.
Praising the law as the legal foundation for the long-term improvement of preschool education quality, Tian introduced the MOE’s next steps in building an affordable public preschool education system, such as:
1. Increasing accessibility and affordability. In accordance with the law, the MOE will ensure that public kindergartens are widely available and government-led, thus enhancing access for urban and rural families and adapting to new demographic and urbanization trends.
2. Securing sustainable funding. In collaboration with relevant departments, the MOE will work to establish long-term financial mechanisms to ensure stable funding for public kindergartens and provide subsidies for eligible kindergartens. Teachers must meet qualification requirements, while their salaries and benefits must be guaranteed.
3. Improving monitoring and oversight. The MOE will lead efforts to improve the process of approving licenses for kindergartens. It will establish a comprehensive system for supervising and assessing existing kindergartens and managing information related to kindergartens. The MOE will also enhance sanctions on kindergartens that do not comply with regulations.
4. Improving the quality of preschool care and instruction. Kindergarten teaching practices will be regulated and kindergarten curricula will be reviewed, with a focus on prohibiting premature introduction of elementary school content at this educational stage. The MOE will provide resources and guidance to improve the quality of preschool care and instruction, helping parents foster a balanced approach to whole child development.
During the press conference, MOE officials also responded to several public concerns. Regarding provisions on advancing preschool education by joint efforts of families, kindergartens, and the community, Zhang said that the entire society should create a supportive environment, encouraging family and community involvement in preschool education. Families and kindergartens should cooperate in conducting child care and educational activities. Moreover, public institutions such as youth centers should offer free resources to enrich early childhood development.
Addressing provisions on avoiding introduction of formal academic content into kindergarten curricula, Tian said that such practices would be discouraged in order to ensure that young children engage in age-appropriate, play-based learning and enjoy a happy, healthy childhood. The MOE will also promote public awareness of the Preschool Education Law to further limit such irregular activities.
