CHINA-EDUCATION: DISCUSSING DROPPING FERTILITY RATES, ARTICLE SUGGESTS MEASURES TO BOOST FERTILITY RATE
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The China Education Daily (August 14) published an article titled 'Unleash the Demographic
Dividend with Preschool Education Reform', which stated that the continued decline in fertility
rate will pose potential risks and challenges to the development of preschool education in China
and that the serious shortage of early childcare services and high cost of childcare has inhibited
people's reproductive behaviour. Referring to an article in Qiu Shi ("Seeking Truth") captioned
"Writing a New Chapter of Population Work in the New Era" by the Party Group of the
National Health Commission of the Communist Party of China, it said China's preschool
education needs to actively respond to the situation. It noted that it is necessary to adjust teacher
education and establish a kindergarten teacher team that adapts to the characteristics of
population changes, establish a "reservoir" of teachers, and rationalise the surplus and shortage
of teachers across regions. It also recommended a child allowance by establishing an inclusive
child allowance distribution system, which covers most of the expenses related to family care
and childcare, thereby boosting the fertility rate.
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