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Starting from the autumn semester of this year, China will waive the care...
and education fees for children in public kindergartens in the year prior to entering primary school.
The move aims to effectively lower education costs and improve the country's public education services.
According to the document, issued by the General Office of the State Council,
for children enrolled in private kindergartens,
their care and education fees will also be reduced in accordance with the amount exempted at local public kindergartens.
Meanwhile,
fiscal departments will provide subsidies to kindergartens to address their loss of income due to the policy.
The guideline also encourages local authorities to further consolidate supportive policies.
in line with local conditions for groups such as children from financially disadvantaged families,
orphans and children with disabilities.
According to the document,
fiscal and education authorities at all levels should enhance fund management and allocate funds promptly and in full to ensure the normal operation of kindergartens.
The guideline also revealed that China will make improvements to the free pre-school education policy at an appropriate time,
considering factors such as changes in the school age population.
Hong Shumin, head of the Institute of Early Childhood Education at Beijing Normal University,
said that the phased introduction of free pre-school education is not only an important step to respond proactively to public concerns and reduce the costs of childcare and education for families,
but also an essential task in advancing the country's high-quality education system.