China offers free preschool to 12 million children this fall

China's phased free preschool education policy will cover all children in their final year of kindergarten nationwide, benefiting around 12 million people this fall semester, a Ministry of Finance official said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The policy is expected to reduce household spending by about 20 billion yuan (roughly 2.8 billion U.S. dollars) during this fall semester alone, Vice Minister of Finance Guo Tingting stated.

Guo said that the exempted fees will be covered jointly by the central and local governments, with the central government taking the largest share. He also added that supporting the central and western regions will be a priority.

Additionally, Guo mentioned that China will improve the policy over time to benefit more children.

China announced guidelines for the phased rollout of free preschool education earlier this week. Under these guidelines, fees for children attending private kindergartens will be lowered to match the exemptions provided at local public kindergartens.

Public response has been quick and positive, especially among families with young children.

A working mother in Beijing, surnamed Wang, said her family's monthly kindergarten expenses are a heavy burden. "If preschool becomes free, it would make a real difference, and could even encourage families like mine to have another child." "How lucky I am!" a netizen from Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, posted on the Weibo social media platform.

My child will start their final year of kindergarten next month. Although public kindergarten fees aren't high each month, they still total around 10,000 yuan (about 1,401 U.S. dollars) annually. This policy will save us a lot.

To ensure a smooth implementation of the regulations this September, Liu Yuguang, a senior official from the Ministry of Education, stated at the press conference that all necessary preparations, such as staff training and policy promotion, are on track to be finished by the end of August.

Liu added that the fee exemption will enhance existing financial aid programs for vulnerable children, including those from low-income families, orphans, and children with disabilities. "These children have long been covered under a financial aid system," he said. "This new policy will work together with existing support to ensure no child is left behind."

China's phased approach to free preschool education is part of a larger effort to address its demographic issues, which include a declining number of newborns and a rapidly aging population.

In recent years, the country has implemented a series of support measures in areas like childbirth, parenting, education, healthcare, and housing, all aimed at creating a more birth-friendly society.

Last week, China announced a nationwide child care subsidy program set to start in 2025, providing families with an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan for each child under age three.

These subsidies, benefiting over 20 million families each year, will be exempt from individual income tax and will not be counted as household or personal income when determining eligibility for welfare programs, such as subsistence allowances or assistance for those in extreme hardship.

A working mother in Beijing, surnamed Meng, said the latest policies represent a real step toward stronger economic support for families.

"I hope that initiatives like child care subsidies and free preschool not only ease the financial burden on parents but also help foster a more family-friendly society, one where more young people feel confident about starting and raising a family," she added.