The demand for childcare for dual-income families is increasing, and there are more affordable kindergarten admission options for two-year-olds. The Ministry of Education originally planned to add 200 two-year-old classes in public kindergartens from 2024 to 2026. Currently, 600 classes have been added, three times the original target. From 2017 to this year, the government has subsidized the establishment of more than 4,100 public kindergarten classes, with nearly 270,000 public education and security places. This year, it will invest more than 500 million yuan to add classes and kindergartens.
This year, more than 500 million yuan will be invested in adding classes and setting up kindergartens.
In the past, kindergartens mainly enrolled children over three years old. After the integration of child care in 2012, kindergartens and nurseries were unified into kindergartens, and the age range of kindergartens covers children from two years old to pre-primary school. However, two-year-old children must be cared for in special classes that meet the regulations. Not every kindergarten has a special two-year-old class.
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Special classes for two-year-olds are commonly known as "kindergarten classes". According to the "Early Childhood Education and Care Act", each class has a maximum of 16 children. There must be one educational care service person for children with less than eight children, and two for children with more than nine children. In principle, children of other ages must not be placed in mixed-age classes. The courses focus on daily life care, self-care ability and game exploration. Reading, writing and arithmetic teaching for the purpose of proficiency are not allowed.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Education, the enrollment rate of two-year-old children in kindergarten has increased from 14 to 14 in the 105 school year. 7%, increased to 64 in the 114 academic year. one%.
Central subsidies, local assessment of class requirements
Wang Huiqiu, leader of the National Education Administration, said that the two-year-old special class is promoted by the central and local governments. The central government provides funding subsidies for adding classes and kindergartens, while the local government evaluates the needs for class establishment and plans and handles them based on the child population of each administrative region, the number of public education and health care places and the actual enrollment situation.
The National Education Bureau does not require every kindergarten to add a special class for two-year-olds, or to convert three- to five-year-old classes to admit two-year-old children. Instead, local governments adjust the supply to areas where parents have needs and there are insufficient public places, and give priority to elementary schools that already have child care centers to facilitate the connection between child care and kindergarten.
In terms of parent burden, public kindergartens pay a maximum of 1,000 yuan per month for the first child, and free for the second child; non-profit kindergartens pay a maximum of 2,000 yuan per month for the first child, 1,000 yuan for the second child, and free for the third child and above; quasi-public kindergartens pay a maximum of 3,000 yuan per month for the first child, 2,000 yuan for the second child, and 1,000 yuan for the third child and above. Children from low-income and low-middle-income families are exempt from payment. Those who are not enrolled in public or quasi-public kindergartens can receive childcare subsidies or schooling subsidies according to the order of birth, which is 5,000 yuan per month for the first child, 6,000 yuan per month for the second child, and 7,000 yuan per month for the third child and above.
The implementation rate of extended care for children and adults reached 95%
In addition, public kindergartens provide weekday extended care and winter and summer vacation care services. The current extended care operation rate reaches 95%. Since 2021, the government has also promoted agencies and public institutions to set up employee childcare venues. As of this year, there have been a total of about 166 venues, increasing parents' options for nearby childcare and creating a win-win goal of balancing work and family.
