ERIC Number: EJ1461175
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Mar
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0141-8211
EISSN: EISSN-1465-3435
Available Date: 2024-12-31
The Evolution, Present Practices, and Future Directions of Early Childhood Education and Care in China
European Journal of Education, v60 n1 e12880 2025
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is one of the key challenges facing China. This paper reviews the development of ECEC in China and its challenges. Substantial developments and policy reforms related to ECEC since the 1980s have been examined, and the practices in China have been highlighted. The review reveals that the ECEC system has evolved significantly in China over a while, both in policy and practice. However, most of the significant changes in the ECEC system have been adopted from Western practices. This adaptation has created several problems in the ECEC structure, as these policies were based on a Western cultural context. Moreover, despite continuous efforts from the government, disparities in ECEC services are evident in urban and rural parts of the country. The quality of the ECEC system is another concern for China. Childcare services (0--3) in China are also inadequate, and fewer policies in the past have tried to focus on this aspect of ECEC. The study concludes with suggestions based on the review analysis.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Early Childhood Education, Educational Trends, Trend Analysis, Educational Development, Educational Policy, Educational Practices, Educational Quality
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Normal School, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Jiangsu, China