About 24 million children enrolled in kindergartens across China have benefited from a policy waiving childcare and education fees for the final year of preschool, a mainland finance official said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Wang Xinxiang, director of the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance, said more than 25 million infants and toddlers have received childcare subsidies for 2026.

Mainland authorities introduced a nationwide childcare subsidy programme in 2025, offering an annual tax-free subsidy of 3,600 yuan for each child under the age of three.

The country also began waiving childcare and education fees for the final year of kindergarten in the 2025 autumn semester, marking another step in easing the financial burden on families with young children. (Xinhua)


Edited by Edmond Fong