China will waive tuition fees for children in their final year at public kindergartens and reduce them for eligible private schools from the next term, the government said on Tuesday, in a phased roll-out of free pre-school education.

The move aims to effectively lower education costs and improve the country's public education services.

For children enrolled in private kindergartens, their care and education fees will also be reduced in accordance with the amount exempted at local public kindergartens, according to the document.

Guidelines from the State Council said the government would provide subsidies to offset the financial impact of the measures on kindergartens.

It also urged local governments to strengthen fund allocation and oversight to ensure kindergartens' normal operation and prevent wage arrears.

Local authorities are also encouraged to further consolidate supportive policies in line with local conditions for groups such as children from financially disadvantaged families, orphans and children with disabilities.

Salaries of public kindergarten teachers should be included in fiscal guarantees to ensure timely and full payment, it added.

The measures came after China unveiled last week a childcare subsidy until the age of three, in an effort to spur a flagging birth rate as fewer young people choose to have children. (Xinhua/Reuters)
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Last updated: 2025-08-05 HKT 21:43