Kindergarten tuition is sky-high and continues to rise. An about-to-open boarding kindergarten in Wuhan, Hubei province, plans to charge 120,000 yuan ($18,800) a year as tuition, which will make it the most expensive in the city. The exorbitant rate is beyond comprehension, says an article in Dazhong Daily. Excerpts:

Preschool education is very important for children's development, but it is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive for parents to get their children into kindergartens. To get their children admitted to a public kindergarten with low fees, parents not only have to queue up, but also do social networking and dish out money. Otherwise, they would be forced to pay exorbitant amounts, which could be equal to even university fees, to get their children into private kindergartens.

Kindergartens are supposed to impart rudimentary knowledge to children, especially cultivate good living habits. But in reality, the pressure of the exam-oriented education system has prompted some kindergartens to spoon-feed pupils.

As the long-term planning program for national education reform and development (2010-2020) says, preschool education will be made available to almost every child by 2020 with an enrollment rate of 95 percent. Two-year preschool education will be promoted and three-year education will be made available in areas where conditions permit.

Since pre-school education is meant to prepare children for primary schools, kindergarten education should proceed step by step and should not cost the sky.

The high cost of kindergartens is a big cause for worry for the people. Hopefully, the education department will take measures to ensure that every child gets a fair chance of entering a kindergarten.

(China Daily 08/26/2011 page9)