China’s Kindergartens Closing: 20,000 Schools Shut Down in Two Years
Beijing, China – The number of kindergarten schools in China is rapidly decreasing, with many schools on the verge of closure. This situation poses a serious threat to students as the new academic session approaches.
Decline in Kindergarten Numbers
According to the Ministry of Education, the number of kindergartens in China dropped from 294,832 to 274,480 between 2021 and 2023, resulting in 20,000 school closures. For example, Angels Kindergarten in Qingpu, Shanghai, which once had 16 classrooms and two large playgrounds, is now out of business after 18 years.
Impact on Students and Teachers
Currently, schools are struggling to fill admissions. The number of children in pre-schools fell by 5 million in 2023 to 40.92 million, the lowest since 2014. Over 170,000 full-time pre-school teachers have lost their jobs in the past year.
Economic Constraints and Government Policies
Li, a mother from Jiangsu, said she can’t afford another child’s education due to economic constraints, spending over 10,000 yuan (USD 1,380) monthly on her daughter. In 2018, the State Council banned private kindergartens from listing shares on the stock market, affecting the sector further.
High Cost of Raising Children
According to Yuwa Population Research Institute, the cost of raising a child to 18 years is 6.3 times the per capita GDP in China, one of the highest globally. Only South Korea has a higher figure at 7.79 times.
Future Challenges
Working parents rely on grandparents for childcare, but this may change as China plans to raise the retirement age. This ongoing issue, combined with a low birth rate and economic challenges, continues to impact the kindergarten education sector.
Doubts Revealed
Kindergartens -: Kindergartens are schools for very young children, usually between the ages of 3 and 6, where they start learning basic things like numbers, letters, and social skills.
Enrollment -: Enrollment means the number of children who are signed up and attending the schools. When enrollment drops, it means fewer children are going to these schools.
Economic constraints -: Economic constraints mean that people don’t have enough money to spend on things like education because they have to use their money for other important needs.
Government policies -: Government policies are rules and decisions made by the government that can affect how things work in the country, like how schools are run or how much money is spent on education.
Low birth rate -: Low birth rate means that fewer babies are being born. When fewer babies are born, there are fewer children to go to school, which can lead to schools closing.
Cost of raising a child -: The cost of raising a child includes all the money parents need to spend on things like food, clothes, healthcare, and education for their children. In China, this cost is very high compared to other countries.
