Approximately 12 million people to benefit this fall semester, reducing household expenses by around 20 billion yuan
Providing quality preschool education is crucial for the healthy development of millions of children and the well-being of families. Recently, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Opinions on Gradually Implementing Free Preschool Education.”
How will preschool education fees be waived? Where will the subsidy funds come from? How will the quality of kindergartens be ensured? On August 7, officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance addressed these public concerns at a policy briefing held by the State Council Information Office.
How will preschool education fees be waived?
According to the “Opinions,” starting this fall semester, tuition fees for the final year of preschool education at public kindergartens will be waived. The policy applies to all children in their final year of preschool education, whether attending public or private kindergartens, in urban or rural areas. The waiver will be based on the tuition standards set by local authorities for public kindergartens.
For public kindergartens, the full tuition fee will be waived. For children enrolled in approved private kindergartens, the waiver will match the tuition level of comparable public kindergartens in the same area. For example, if a private kindergarten charges 800 yuan per month per child and a comparable public kindergarten charges 500 yuan, parents at the private kindergarten will only pay the 300 yuan difference.
Regions that have already implemented free preschool education policies beyond the final year may continue their existing measures. The “Opinions” encourage localities to consolidate financial aid policies for economically disadvantaged families to ensure no reduction in benefits.
“We will consider factors such as demographic changes and fiscal conditions to refine the policy over time, benefiting more children,” said an official.
Where will the subsidy funds come from?
Gradually implementing free preschool education requires strong financial support.
The “Opinions” specify that the reduction in kindergarten revenue due to the tuition waiver will be offset by government subsidies, jointly funded by central and local governments. The central government will cover 80%, 60%, and 50% of costs in western, central, and eastern regions, respectively.
Subsidy standards for this year are based on actual tuition fees per student in public kindergartens, with adjustments made in future years based on policy evaluations.
To ensure timely implementation, central funds have been allocated and will soon be distributed. Local governments are instructed to finalize subsidy standards and implementation plans promptly while strengthening fund supervision.
The Ministry of Education will oversee policy rollout, providing training for kindergarten administrators and staff. Preparations will be completed by the end of August to ensure benefits are available at the start of the fall semester.
“We will use the preschool education management information system to verify enrollment data accurately, ensuring proper fund allocation,” an official stated.
Will kindergarten quality be affected?
Parents are concerned whether free preschool education will impact kindergarten quality.
The Preschool Education Law, enacted on June 1, provides legal safeguards for children’s education rights. The Ministry of Education and other departments will work to standardize operations and improve quality in line with the law and national education plans.
Key measures include:
Strengthening coordination: Clarifying departmental roles and improving local mechanisms to support sustainable preschool education development.
Standardizing operations: Enforcing regulations on staff qualifications, funding, and fees, while ensuring strict hiring practices and daily safety protocols.
Enhancing education quality: Promoting child-centered teaching methods, play-based learning, and stimulating children’s curiosity for joyful growth.
Strengthening oversight: Holding local governments accountable for supervision, including rigorous approval processes and ongoing monitoring to maintain standards and safety.
Improving evaluation: Advancing nationwide assessments to transition from basic access to high-quality preschool education.
From 2013 to 2024, central government funding for preschool education totaled 220.9 billion yuan, significantly expanding access. The national preschool enrollment rate for three-year programs reached 92% in 2024, up over 20 percentage points from 2012.
“Next, we will refine policies to support local investment, optimize spending, and promote universal, affordable, safe, and high-quality preschool education,” an official said.