Draft law to protect preschool children

The Standing Committee of National People's Congress, China's top legislature, is reviewing a draft law aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of preschool children amid a significant decline in enrollment.

The draft law, currently undergoing its second reading, includes a chapter on preschool children that highlights the importance of child-centered preschool education and prioritizing the protection of children's rights.

Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that China's kindergarten enrollment numbers dropped by 5.35 million last year, marking the third consecutive year of decline. The total number of kindergartens operating in the country stood at 274,400 last year, with an enrollment of 40.9 million children.

Tie Ning, vice-chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee, highlighted the need to adjust preschool education in response to population changes, particularly the decline in new urban populations.

"The birthrate in China will continue to decline," she said during the second reading. "It is essential to scientifically plan and allocate educational resources to meet the demand for preschool education while avoiding resource waste."

Tie cited an example from Guangdong province, where a city mandated new kindergartens and primary schools in each of its 29 villages, only to find some villages had as few as 37 residents, resulting in a significant waste of resources.

"There has already been a wave of closures of private kindergartens, a phenomenon that must be taken seriously," she said. "The draft amendments have made relevant provisions for the shutting of kindergartens."

The draft requires kindergartens planning to alter operations or shut down to report to county-level education authorities and the public six months in advance, ensuring proper arrangements for enrolled children. The provision addresses public concerns over sudden kindergarten closures that fail to return fees or relocate children.

Yang Huifang, an NPC deputy and kindergarten principal from Quzhou county, Hebei province, emphasized the importance of planning preschool education resources based on the declining population.

She proposed integrating high-quality private kindergartens into overall planning, reflecting equal social status for public and private institutions and meeting diverse needs while preventing resource waste.

The draft law encourages kindergartens with suitable conditions to establish nursery classes for children aged 2 to 3, which would provide childcare services. Yang said that incorporating nursery services into preschool education can reduce family burdens and increase birthrates.

She suggested that the law should cover children aged 0 to 6, jointly developing nursery care and kindergarten education.

The draft stipulates that kindergartens must take protective measures if they discover that preschool children have been harmed or are suspected of being harmed.

It also aims to facilitate easier kindergarten admission for disabled children, saying that nonprofit kindergartens should admit children with disabilities who can adapt to kindergarten life and provide them with assistance.