China Shuts Down 20,400 Preschools in Just 2 Years: A Disturbing Trend

In the past two years (2022-2023), China has closed approximately 20,400 preschools, causing many teachers to resign. This concerning trend can be attributed to a sharp decline in birth rates, resulting in a shortage of students for these institutions. Furthermore, this issue is expected to extend to primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and even universities in the coming years.

Declining Birth Rates Cause Preschool Closures

According to the Chinese Ministry of Education, the number of preschools in China has significantly decreased to 274,400 in 2023, compared to 289,200 the previous year and 294,800 in 2021. The decline in birth rates is evident, with only 9 million infants born in 2023, down from 9.6 million the previous year, 10.6 million in 2021, 12 million in 2020, 14.7 million in 2019, and 15.2 million in 2018.

Impact on Rural Preschools

Ding Changfa, an adjunct professor of economics at Haumen University, identifies rural preschools as the most affected. As a result of the increasing number of preschool closures, many teachers are left with no choice but to resign. Experts predict that in the next decade, China will have an excess of nearly 1.9 million primary and secondary school teachers due to the declining population.

Encouraging Parenthood and Public Preschools

To address the issue, the Chinese government has recently increased the construction of public and nonprofit kindergartens, aiming to incentivize young couples to have children. The burden of tuition fees and finding preschools for children has reduced in many major cities as the government provides partial financial support for early education.

Future Projections

Qiao Jinzhong, an adjunct professor at Beijing Normal University, predicts a further decline in the number of primary schools in China to around 92,800 by 2035, compared to 144,200 in 2020. The demand for middle schools is also expected to decrease in the coming years.

In conclusion, the closure of 20,400 preschools within just two years in China is a concerning trend driven by declining birth rates. This situation has led to a significant impact on teachers and will likely affect the education sector at all levels. As the Chinese government takes measures to address this issue, the hope is to encourage parenthood and stabilize the education system for future generations.

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