Draft law to protect preschool children

Legislation emphasizes child-centered education amid enrollment decline

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, is reviewing a draft law aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of preschool children amid a significant decline in enrollment.

The draft law, currently undergoing its second reading, includes a chapter on preschool children that highlights the importance of child-centered preschool education and prioritizing the protection of children's rights.

Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that China's kindergarten enrollment numbers dropped by 5.35 million last year, marking the third consecutive year of decline. The total number of kindergartens operating in the country stood at 274,400 last year, with an enrollment of 40.9 million children.