- China significantly increases preschool funding to strengthen early childhood education nationwide
- The investment expands free access to preschool education for millions of young learners
- The initiative focuses on improving education quality, inclusivity, and support for disadvantaged families
China has significantly increased its investment in preschool education, allocating 45.8 billion yuan (around $6.7 billion) for 2026 to strengthen early childhood learning across the country. The latest funding marks an increase of 38 percent compared to the previous year, reflecting the government’s continued focus on improving education access and quality during the early years of learning.
According to Ministry of Finance of China, the funds will mainly support local governments in implementing policies that remove childcare and education fees for preschool children. The investment will also help expand inclusive preschool resources, improve teaching standards, and strengthen financial support for children from low-income families and other disadvantaged communities.
China has steadily increased support for early childhood education in recent years. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025, the central government allocated a total of 126.2 billion yuan for preschool education development. A major policy shift came in the autumn semester of 2025, when China waived childcare and education fees for children in their final year at public kindergartens. Eligible children enrolled in private institutions also received subsidies.
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Officials said the policy has already benefited more than 14 million children while reducing household education expenses by over 20 billion yuan. The government said it will continue working with the Ministry of Education of China to ensure effective use of central and local funds and maintain smooth kindergarten operations nationwide.
The latest funding boost is expected to improve learning opportunities, create stronger foundations for future academic development, and support the professional growth of educators working in early childhood education. The move highlights China’s broader push to strengthen foundational education and build a more inclusive and high-quality learning system for future generations.
