Early Childhood Education and Care in the People’s Republic of China

Abstract

Before the reform toward market economy was officially launched in China in 1993, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the People’s Republic of China had been financed publicly through three sources and provided dispersedly by the working institutions for their staff. However, two out of the three of public funding sources for ECEC provision have been removed since 1993. In the mean time, private provision of ECEC emerged and soon outpaced the government regulations, particularly of their tuitions and service quality. As a result, ECEC provision is now faced with critiques for its outcome of reverse transfer of payment and the lack of easy access to the publicly funded ECEC services. By elaborating on the evolution of concepts and institutional framework, this article undertakes to clarify the drives affecting the future ECEC provision in China.