China offers free preschool tuition

This is a new strategy to increase birth rates in the face of a demographic crisis.

According to information from the Chinese government , in addition to public schools, 5-year-old children studying at licensed private schools will also receive tuition reductions. The reduction depends on the budgets of the central and local governments.

The tuition exemption and reduction policy comes as China's population has declined for three consecutive years. In 2024, the country recorded 9.54 million births, only half of the number in 2016.

In the same year, the population decreased by 1.39 million people. India replaced China as the world's most populous country. According to the United Nations, if this trend continues, China's population could decrease to 800 million by 2100.

There are many reasons for the low marriage and birth rates in this country, such as living costs, work pressure, high housing prices, etc. In the face of this situation, Beijing considers free tuition as an "important measure for thousands of households".

The move comes just a week after China announced it would give parents $500 a year for each child under 3. Officials acknowledged the country has shifted from population growth to population decline, with nearly 310 million people aged 60 or older by 2024. That poses a major challenge for the pension system and the workforce.

According to The Straits Times

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